Scientists at Rockefeller University (USA) have discovered that life-threatening and fatal cases of COVID-19 are associated with a dysfunction of the immune system. One of the main causes of severe complications due to coronavirus is reported in an article published in the journal Science.
According to the findings of the researchers, at least 3.5 percent of the studied patients with severe COVID-19 have mutations in genes involved in antiviral defense. At the same time, 10 percent of patients (101 out of 987 study participants) with severe symptoms develop “auto-antibodies” that attack the immune system. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of such patients are men (94 percent).
Experts have identified errors in the genes involved in the synthesis of antiviral interferons. Without the full complement of these molecules, the body cannot cope with the virus. However, in many cases, interferons are damaged by antibodies, reminiscent of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes. These “autoantibodies” are not present in patients with mild COVID-19.
