Researchers at Stanford Medicine have found a possible biological reason why a small number of people develop myocarditis after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The reaction remains rare, and health officials continue to say that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective for most peopl…
The study looked at immune system differences between people who developed myocarditis and those who did not. Researchers identified two immune signaling molecules, CXCL10 and interferon-gamma, that may help drive inflammation in rare cases.
They found that certain immune cells produced higher levels of CXCL10, which then interacted with T cells and increased interferon-gamma activity. This process may amplify inflammatory signals and contribute to heart inflammation in vulnerable individuals.
Laboratory and animal studies showed that blocking these pathways reduced inflammation while keeping broader immune protection intact. Scientists say the findings are meant to improve understanding of rare side effects and guide future treatments, not to question the overall benefits of vaccination.