Unique autoantibody prevalence in long-term recovered SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals

Abstract

The variability in resolution of SARS-CoV-2-infections between individuals neither is comprehended, nor are the long-term immunological consequences. To assess the long-term impact of a SARS-CoV-2-infection on the immune system, we conducted a prospective study of 80 acute and former SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals and 39 unexposed donors to evaluate autoantibody responses and immune composition. Autoantibody levels against cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), a specific predictor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), were significantly (p = 0.035) elevated in convalescents only, whereas both acute COVID-19 patients and long-term convalescents showed critically increased levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase (TG), a specific predictor of celiac disease (CD) (p = 0.002). Both, anti-CCP and anti-TG antibody levels were still detectable after 4–8 months post infection. Anti-TG antibodies occurred predominantly in aged patients in a context of a post-SARS-CoV-2-specific immune composition (R 2 = 0.31; p = 0.044). This study shows that increased anti-CCP and anti-TG autoantibody levels can remain long-term after recovering even from mildly experienced COVID-19. The inter-relationship of the lung as viral entry side and RA- and CD-associated autoimmunity indicates that a SARS-CoV-2-infection could be a relevant environmental factor in their pathogenesis.

Homologous and Heterologous Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination Does Not Induce New-Onset Formation of Autoantibodies Typically Accompanying Lupus Erythematodes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease and Antiphospholipid Syndrome

“…However, three participants only showed a slight induction of ANA titers up to 1:160. In a recent study, 22.5% of the tested healthy controls exhibited comparable titer values [11]. Therefore, the increases in ANA titers detected in these three individuals were possibly not triggered by the booster vaccination.…”

“…Booster vaccination led to a slight increase in anti-TTG-IgA levels in one volunteer with pre-existing autoantibodies in the Vector/mRNA group that were not associated with any clinical signs. The analysis of the autoantibody profile in non-symptomatic and COVID-19 patients with a mild course of the disease had shown age-dependent elevations of anti-CCP-IgG and anti-TTG-IgA autoantibodies [11]. Therefore, we analyzed if the three different vaccination regimens would trigger similar events.…”

“…In this context it was reported that COVID-19 patients carrying antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), antiphospholipid antibodies or anti-SS-A/Ro show more severe COVID-19 courses than patients devoid of these autoantibodies [7][8][9][10]. Interestingly, in non-symptomatic COVID-19 patients and patients with only mild disease courses, an age-dependent tendency towards the development of autoantibodies such as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP)-IgG and anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG)-IgA antibodies was also detected [11].…”

SARS-Cov2 acute and post-active infection in the context of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases

“…An elevated prevalence of autoAb is often reported in patients with acute COVID-19, and the most frequent associations are described with aPL (antiphospholipid) autoAb, ANA (antinuclear autoAb), RF (rheumatoid factor), and ACPA (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoAb) [ 70 ]. Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, more than half presented aPL autoAb including a positive lupus anticoagulant assay, anti-cardiolipin and/or anti-β2GPIs autoAbs predominantly of the IgM isotype [ 71 , 72 ].…”

COVID-19 and fertility—at the crossroads of autoimmunity and thrombosis

“…Likewise, Lingel et al [ 69 ] noticed raised titers of anti-CCP (Cyclic Citrullinated peptide antibodies) and anti-TG (Tissue Transglutaminase) in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients on follow-up indicating the formation of auto-antibodies and hence the role of autoimmunity in COVID-19. COVID-19-associated viral myositis is also thought to be a result of the autoimmunity [ 70 ].…”