Dysregulated autoantibodies targeting AGTR1 are associated with the accumulation of COVID-19 symptoms

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cardiovascular Science
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• COVID-19 exhibits diverse symptoms with unclear origins.
• Autoantibodies (AABs) targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) molecules are implicated.
• Understanding these AABs may clarify COVID-19's complex clinical presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between specific autoantibodies (AABs) and the clinical manifestations of COVID-19.
• To explore the role of AABs targeting GPCRs and RAS molecules in symptom development.
• To identify AABs as potential predictors of COVID-19 symptom severity.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 244 individuals with COVID-19.
• Multivariate analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and multinomial regression were employed.
• Analysis focused on correlating AAB levels with key symptoms like fever, myalgia, anosmia, and dysgeusia.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations found between specific AABs and COVID-19 symptoms.
• Anti-angiotensin II receptor type 1 (anti-AGTR1) antibodies strongly predicted core symptoms.
• AAB levels correlated positively with the number of accumulated symptoms, peaking in patients with all four key symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Autoantibodies, especially anti-AGTR1 antibodies, play a significant role in determining COVID-19 symptom severity.
• Anti-AGTR1 antibodies' link to endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) degradation suggests involvement in COVID-19 vascular complications.
• These findings underscore the potential of AABs in understanding COVID-19 pathophysiology.