Long COVID: Association of Functional Autoantibodies against G-Protein-Coupled Receptors with an Impaired Retinal Microcirculation.

Abstract

Long COVID (LC) describes the clinical phenotype of symptoms after infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Diagnostic and therapeutic options are limited, as the pathomechanism of LC is elusive. As the number of acute SARS-CoV-2 infections was and is large, LC will be a challenge for the healthcare system. Previous studies revealed an impaired blood flow, the formation of microclots, and autoimmune mechanisms as potential factors in this complex interplay. Since functionally active autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-AAbs) were observed in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection, this study aimed to correlate the appearance of GPCR-AAbs with capillary microcirculation. The seropositivity of GPCR-AAbs was measured by an established cardiomyocyte bioassay in 42 patients with LC and 6 controls. Retinal microcirculation was measured by OCT-angiography and quantified as macula and peripapillary vessel density (VD) by the Erlangen-Angio Tool. A statistical analysis yielded impaired VD in patients with LC compared to the controls, which was accentuated in female persons. A significant decrease in macula and peripapillary VD for AAbs targeting adrenergic β2-receptor, MAS-receptor angiotensin-II-type-1 receptor, and adrenergic α1-receptor were observed. The present study might suggest that a seropositivity of GPCR-AAbs can be linked to an impaired retinal capillary microcirculation, potentially mirroring the systemic microcirculation with consecutive clinical symptoms.

• Authors: Charlotte Szewczykowski, Christian Mardin, Marianna Lucio, Gerd Wallukat, Jakob Hoffmanns, Thora Schröder, Franziska Raith, Lennart Rogge, Felix Heltmann, Michael Moritz, Lorenz Beitlich, Julia Schottenhamml, Martin Herrmann, Thomas Harrer, Marion Ganslmayer, Friedrich E Kruse, Martin Kräter, Jochen Guck, Robert Lämmer, Matthias Zenkel, Andreas Gießl, Bettina Hohberger
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 23 Issue 13 (Jun 29 2022) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 35806214 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic Agents
• Autoantibodies
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled

Topics

• Adrenergic Agents
• Autoantibodies
• COVID-19 (complications)
• Female
• Humans
• Microcirculation
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
• Retinal Vessels
• SARS-CoV-2
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome