Immunoserologic Detection and Diagnostic Relevance of Cross-Reactive Autoantibodies in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients

J Infect Dis. 2020 Oct 1;222(9):1439-1443. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa485.

Abstract

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we detected a new immunofluorescence (IF) pattern in serum autoantibody (autoAb) screening of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Methods: The IF pattern was composed of liver and gastric mucosa staining on rat kidney/liver/stomach sections.

Results: We describe 12 patients positive for the cross-reactive antibody, compared with a negative group of 43 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, finding association with either neurologic or thrombotic complications. In sequential pre- and post-COVID-19 serum samples, we confirmed autoAb seroconversion.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that autoAb screening in COVID-19 patients may be easily performed by IF and alert for autoreactive-mediated complications such as thrombotic or neurologic events.

Keywords: COVID-19; autoantibody; autoimmunity; immunofluorescence; molecular mimicry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / immunology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / virology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • Rats
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroconversion
  • Serologic Tests
  • Thrombosis / immunology*
  • Thrombosis / virology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Ferritins