RT Journal Article
T1 Autoantibodies against ACE2 and angiotensin type-1 receptors increase severity of COVID-19
A1 Rodríguez Pérez, Ana Isabel
A1 Labandeira, Carmen M.
A1 Pedrosa Sánchez, María Ángeles
A1 Valenzuela Limiñana, Rita
A1 Suárez Quintanilla, Juan
A1 Cortes Ayaso, María
A1 Mayán Conesa, Plácido
A1 Labandeira García, José Luis
K1 Autoantibody
K1 Autoimmunity
K1 LIGHT
K1 Outcome prediction
K1 Renin-angiotensin system
K1 SARS-CoV-2
AB The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a major role in COVID-19. Severity of several inflammation-related diseases has been associated with autoantibodies against RAS, particularly agonistic autoantibodies for angiotensin type-1 receptors (AA-AT1) and autoantibodies against ACE2 (AA-ACE2). Disease severity of COVID-19 patients was defined as mild, moderate or severe following the WHO Clinical Progression Scale and determined at medical discharge. Serum AA-AT1 and AA-ACE2 were measured in COVID-19 patients (n = 119) and non-infected controls (n = 23) using specific solid-phase, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum LIGHT (TNFSF14; tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14) levels were measured with the corresponding assay kit. At diagnosis, AA-AT1 and AA-ACE2 levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group relative to controls, and we observed significant association between disease outcome and serum AA-AT1 and AA-ACE2 levels. Mild disease patients had significantly lower levels of AA-AT1 (p < 0.01) and AA-ACE2 (p < 0.001) than moderate and severe patients. No significant differences were detected between males and females. The increase in autoantibodies was not related to comorbidities potentially affecting COVID-19 severity. There was significant positive correlation between serum levels of AA-AT1 and LIGHT (TNFSF14; rPearson = 0.70, p < 0.001). Both AA-AT1 (by agonistic stimulation of AT1 receptors) and AA-ACE2 (by reducing conversion of Angiotensin II into Angiotensin 1-7) may lead to increase in AT1 receptor activity, enhance proinflammatory responses and severity of COVID-19 outcome. Patients with high levels of autoantibodies require more cautious control after diagnosis. Additionally, the results encourage further studies on the possible protective treatment with AT1 receptor blockers in COVID-19
PB Elsevier
SN 0896-8411
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/26517
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/26517
LA eng
NO Journal of Autoimmunity, 122 (2021), 102683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102683
NO Axencia Galega de Innovación (IN845D 2020/20). Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RTI2018-098830-B-I00). Spanish Ministry of Health (PI17/00828, RD16/0011/0016 and CIBERNED). Galician Government (XUGA, ED431C 2018/10, ED431G/05). FEDER (Regional European Development Fund)
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026