A new study from Yale University is shedding light on why some seemingly healthy patients may develop severe reactions to the novel coronavirus.
Researchers studying patients with severe cases of COVID-19 found many had so-called “rogue antibodies,” also known as autoantibodies.
“What we’re talking about here is the unfortunate case where the immune system makes an accident,” explained Dr. Aaron Ring, an assistant professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study.
“And in addition to making antibodies against the virus, it unfortunately makes antibodies against a patient’s own molecules. And that can cause damage to tissues, it can interfere with the immune system, it can prevent an effective response to the virus.”
These autoantibodies undermine the body’s ability to fight off the virus the way that it normally would and could be the reason why some people who do not otherwise have risk factors get seriously ill from the virus.
“A hugely diverse set of cells and tissues are targeted by autoantibodies in COVID.”
He says that under normal circumstances the immune system filters out autoantibodies, but that is more difficult when the body is under attack from a virus.
“It is very possible – and in fact likely - that this is not COVID-specific, but certainly COVID is a big driver of it.”
Dr. Ring says their study built on work from another immunologist Dr. Jean-Laurent Casanova, who published an earlier study which found that many patients with severe COVID had pre-existing autoantibodies that fight against a crucial anti-viral molecule called interferon.
Just like regular, helpful antibodies, autoantibodies can also remain in the system for a long time, which could mean long-lasting impacts on the immune system.
“They can last for a long time, well after a virus has cleared. They can even be lifelong,” said Dr. Ring. “It could be an unfortunate legacy of the virus; you survive this infection and yet you’re saddled with long-lasting autoimmune disease. We haven’t proven that yet, but we’re very keenly looking to test it.”
Dr. Ring says more research needs to be done to determine the mechanisms behind these autoantibodies and develop therapies to counteract them.
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