Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States have revealed why COVID-19 passes differently in different patients.
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The reason has to do with the types of antibodies that cause unwanted reactions. This is reported by the publication Nature Medicine.
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Experts have shown that children with MIS-C, which developed after COVID-19, have high levels of IgG antibodies. Usually antibodies help control infection, but in the case of MIS-C, these antibodies activate immune cells.
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IgGs interact with macrophages, increasing their activity. Due to the fact that macrophages are present in many tissues, the inflammatory process begins.
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Adults with severe COVID-19 have elevated levels of IgA antibodies, which interact with neutrophils and cause them to secrete cytokines. If there are too many IgA antibodies, it can cause a cytokine storm.
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The researchers hope the discovery will help develop therapies that alter the immune response while preserving its protective functions and reducing harmful responses.
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