Autoantibodies and Antibodies: Understanding Their Roles and Implications
Functional Autoantibodies (AABs) in Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection A recent study delves into the role of functional autoantibodies (AABs) in acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. It reveals that even mild cases of COVID-19 can trigger the generation of diverse and functional AABs. Persistently elevated autoantibodies have been observed in individuals suffering from long COVID (LC). By employing a comprehensive human protein array consisting of over 21,000 proteins, researchers identified diverse AAB targets in LC patients. These targets correlated with the patients' symptoms, particularly those affecting the nervous system. Elevated AABs against nervous system proteins were prevalent in LC patients exhibiting neurocognitive and neurological symptoms. In one part of the study, purified Immunoglobulin G (IgG) samples from these individuals were tested and found to react with human pons tissue. They also cross-reacted with mouse sciatic nerves, spinal cord, and meninges. Notably, antibody reactivi...