Autoantibodies and SARS-CoV2 infection: The spectrum from association to clinical implication: Report of the 15th Dresden Symposium on Autoantibodies
Jan Damoiseaux, Arad Dotan, Marvin J. Fritzler, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Pier Luigi Meroni, Dirk Roggenbuck, Michel Goldman, Nils Landegren, Paul Bastard, Yehuda Shoenfeld, Karsten Conrad
Abstract
The relation between infections and autoimmune diseases has been extensively investigated. Multiple studies suggest a causal relation between these two entities with molecular mimicry, hyperstimulation and dysregulation of the immune system as plausible mechanisms. The recent pandemic with a new virus, i.e., SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in numerous studies addressing the potential of this virus to induce autoimmunity and, eventually, autoimmune disease. In addition, it has also revealed that pre-existing auto-immunity (auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs) could cause life-threatening disease. Therefore, the topic of the 15th Dresden Symposium on Autoantibodies was focused on autoimmunity in the SARS-CoV-2 era. This report is a collection and distillation of the topics presented at this meeting.