Antigen Microarray Detection for Coronavirus-associated Autoimmunity

Coronavirus-associated Autoimmunity

In the winter of 2002-2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in China and subsequently spread throughout the world. SARS is caused by a novel species of coronavirus that has been named SARS-CoV. Several studies have suggested that autoimmunity may also be involved in the pathogenesis of SARS. Indeed, there are cross-reactive epitopes on domain 2 of the SARS-CoV spike protein (S2) with human lung epithelial cell proteins. Anti-SARS-CoV spike antibodies enhance the adherence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to A549 cells. Thus, the autoimmune responses in SARS-CoV infection may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.

It has been suggested that the shared pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical-radiological aspects between the hyper-inflammatory diseases and Covid-19 may suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could act as a triggering factor for the development of a rapid autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory dysregulation, leading to the severe interstitial pneumonia, in genetically predisposed individuals. Furthermore, in an online pre-published study, the authors studied prospectively a group of 22 patients for the possible role of autoimmunity in SARS-CoV-2 -associated respiratory failure. Based on serological, radiological, and histomorphological similarities between Covid-19-associated ARDS and acute exacerbation of connective tissue disease-induced interstitial lung disease, the authors suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection might trigger or simulate a form of organ-specific autoimmunity in predisposed patients. In a similar retrospective study from China of 21 patients with critical SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, the authors showed a prevalence of between 20% and 50% of autoimmune disease-related autoantibodies, suggesting the rationale for immunosuppression in such cases of Covid-19.

Antigen Microarray Detection for Coronavirus-associated Autoimmunity

Antibody microarrays, or so-called antigen microarrays, belong to the category of protein microarrays with unique capabilities and take advantage of a novel promising proteomic technology performing high throughput, multiplex, and miniaturized tests to target low-abundant analytes in the samples. Antigen arrays are not only tools to investigate limited sets of preselected proteins. They can rather serve as discovery tools to identify novel targets of coronavirus-associated autoantibodies in various disease conditions. Using antigen arrays, both analytical and functional assays can be performed. In a functional assay format, the arrayed antigens are utilized to decipher various binding activities such as protein-protein, protein-drug, protein-peptide, or protein-nucleic acid interactions. Protein microarrays provide a proteome-wide characterization of the present antibodies in response to SARS-CoV-2 antigens. This strategy is preferred for profiling antibodies by enabling antibody screening using some or all of the proteins present in SARS-CoV-2 particles with a high resolution.

The typical workflow of a peptide microarray experiment. Fig.1 The typical workflow of a peptide microarray experiment. (Heiss, 2020)

Services at Creative Biolabs

With the global pandemic of COVID-19, coronavirus has attracted the attention of global researchers. With the deepening of study, the importance of coronavirus-associated autoimmunity has also been gradually revealed. As we mentioned above, antigen microarray detection has advantages in many aspects in this context. Due to our effort in this field for years, Creative Biolabs has grown a professional in autoantibodies studies. We are confident in offering quality-assured antigen microarray detection services with autoantigens from coronavirus to global customers.

If you are interested in our services or you need any other help in the study of autoantibodies, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Reference

  1. Heiss, K.; et al. Rapid Response to Pandemic Threats: Immunogenic Epitope Detection of Pandemic Pathogens for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development Using Peptide Microarrays. J Proteome Res. 2020, 19(11): 4339-4354.
For Research Use Only | Not For Clinical Use

Related Services:

Products:

Resource:

Applications:

Online Inquiry
Inquiry