Your browser doesn't support javascript.
High frequency of cerebrospinal fluid autoantibodies in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.
Franke, Christiana; Ferse, Caroline; Kreye, Jakob; Reincke, S Momsen; Sanchez-Sendin, Elisa; Rocco, Andrea; Steinbrenner, Mirja; Angermair, Stefan; Treskatsch, Sascha; Zickler, Daniel; Eckardt, Kai-Uwe; Dersch, Rick; Hosp, Jonas; Audebert, Heinrich J; Endres, Matthias; Ploner, J Christoph; Prüß, Harald.
  • Franke C; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: christiana.franke@charite.de.
  • Ferse C; Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
  • Kreye J; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany; Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Reincke SM; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin 10178, Germany.
  • Sanchez-Sendin E; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany.
  • Rocco A; Department of Neurology, Ernst-von-Bergmann Klinikum, Potsdam, Germany.
  • Steinbrenner M; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Angermair S; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
  • Treskatsch S; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
  • Zickler D; Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
  • Eckardt KU; Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
  • Dersch R; Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
  • Hosp J; Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
  • Audebert HJ; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Endres M; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Cardio
  • Ploner JC; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Prüß H; Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany.
Brain Behav Immun ; 93: 415-419, 2021 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-987109
Preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

COVID-19 intensive care patients can present with neurological syndromes, usually in the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The recent finding of some virus-neutralizing antibodies cross-reacting with brain tissue suggests the possible involvement of specific autoimmunity.

DESIGN:

Blood and CSF samples from eleven critically ill COVID-19 patients presenting with unexplained neurological symptoms including myoclonus, oculomotor disturbance, delirium, dystonia and epileptic seizures, were analyzed for anti-neuronal and anti-glial autoantibodies.

RESULTS:

Using cell-based assays and indirect immunofluorescence on unfixed murine brain sections, all patients showed anti-neuronal autoantibodies in serum or CSF. Antigens included intracellular and neuronal surface proteins, such as Yo or NMDA receptor, but also various specific undetermined epitopes, reminiscent of the brain tissue binding observed with certain human monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. These included vessel endothelium, astrocytic proteins and neuropil of basal ganglia, hippocampus or olfactory bulb.

CONCLUSION:

The high frequency of autoantibodies targeting the brain in the absence of other explanations suggests a causal relationship to clinical symptoms, in particular to hyperexcitability (myoclonus, seizures). Several underlying autoantigens and their potential molecular mimicry with SARS-CoV-2 still await identification. However, autoantibodies may already now explain some aspects of multi-organ disease in COVID-19 and can guide immunotherapy in selected cases.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Autoantibodies / Central Nervous System Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Brain Behav Immun Journal subject: Allergy and Immunology / Brain / Psychophysiology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Autoantibodies / Central Nervous System Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Brain Behav Immun Journal subject: Allergy and Immunology / Brain / Psychophysiology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article