SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with anti-desmoglein 2 autoantibody detection.
Clin Exp Immunol
; 213(2): 243-251, 2023 07 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37095599
ABSTRACT
Post-acute cardiac sequelae, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, are well recognized as complications of COVID-19. We have previously shown the persistence of autoantibodies against antigens in skin, muscle, and heart in individuals following severe COVID-19; the most common staining on skin tissue displayed an inter-cellular cement pattern consistent with antibodies against desmosomal proteins. Desmosomes play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of tissues. For this reason, we analyzed desmosomal protein levels and the presence of anti-desmoglein (DSG) 1, 2, and 3 antibodies in acute and convalescent sera from patients with COVID-19 of differing clinical severity. We find increased levels of DSG2 protein in sera from acute COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we find that DSG2 autoantibody levels are increased significantly in convalescent sera following severe COVID-19 but not in hospitalized patients recovering from influenza infection or healthy controls. Levels of autoantibody in sera from patients with severe COVID-19 were comparable to levels in patients with non-COVID-19-associated cardiac disease, potentially identifying DSG2 autoantibodies as a novel biomarker for cardiac damage. To determine if there was any association between severe COVID-19 and DSG2, we stained post-mortem cardiac tissue from patients who died from COVID-19 infection. This confirmed DSG2 protein within the intercalated discs and disruption of the intercalated disc between cardiomyocytes in patients who died from COVID-19. Our results reveal the potential for DSG2 protein and autoimmunity to DSG2 to contribute to unexpected pathologies associated with COVID-19 infection.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Autoanticuerpos
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Exp Immunol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido