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. 2020 Nov;20(11):645-646.
doi: 10.1038/s41577-020-00458-y.

Do cross-reactive antibodies cause neuropathology in COVID-19?

Jakob Kreye  1   2 , S Momsen Reincke  1   3 , Harald Prüss  4   5
Affiliations

Do cross-reactive antibodies cause neuropathology in COVID-19?

Jakob Kreye et al. Nat Rev Immunol. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Neurological symptoms are seen in patients with COVID-19 and can persist or re-emerge after clearance of SARS-CoV-2. Recent findings suggest that antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can cross-react with mammalian proteins. Focusing on neurological symptoms, we discuss whether these cross-reactive antibodies could contribute to COVID-19 disease pathology and to the persistence of symptoms in patients who have cleared the initial viral infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The DZNE and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have filed a patent application on therapeutic SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies on which J.K., S.M.R. and H.P. are named as inventors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be autoreactive.
a | A fraction of SARS-CoV-2-binding monoclonal antibodies that have been derived from patients with COVID-19 can cross-react with mammalian tissue antigens. b | Similarly, antibodies detected in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with COVID-19 can bind to vessel, muscular and neuronal autoantigens. c | Indirect immunofluorescence using mouse brain (and further organ) sections has demonstrated specific autoantibody binding. d | Potential implications of antibody cross-reactivity that require urgent research.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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