A rare autoimmune syndrome is on the rise

(Dan Tri) - Scientists have just described a rare autoimmune syndrome linked to waves of Covid-19 infections that can cause severe lung damage, even death in some cases.

A research team at the University of Leeds and UC San Diego said they had recorded an unusual increase in the number of cases of dermatomyositis positive for anti-MDA5 autoantibodies in Yorkshire (UK) between 2020 and 2022.

MIP-C syndrome, associated with COVID-19, can be triggered even when a person has a mild or asymptomatic infection (Photo: NIH)

The disease, which was once considered rare and more common in Asian countries, now appears mainly in white patients in the North of England.

The research results recently published in the journal eBioMedicine describe this condition with the term MIP C (short for MDA5 autoimmunity and Interstitial Pneumonitis Contemporaneous with the Covid-19 pandemic).

Data shows that the number of positive MDA5 cases increased coincided with large Covid-19 outbreaks in the community.

Mechanism of action on the lungs

MDA5 is an RNA-sensing protein that plays an important role in the innate immune system. When the body produces autoantibodies against MDA5, people are prone to develop progressive interstitial lung disease, leading to lung fibrosis and reduced respiratory function.

When the body produces autoantibodies against MDA5, patients are susceptible to developing progressive interstitial lung disease, leading to pulmonary fibrosis and impaired respiratory function (Photo: r.classen)

Of the 60 patients recorded in Yorkshire, 25 developed interstitial lung disease and eight died.

Further analysis showed that MIP C patients had high levels of interleukin 15, a potent inflammatory cytokine. According to the authors, IL 15 may promote immune cell exhaustion and induce the inflammatory phenotype commonly seen in advanced pulmonary fibrosis.

This is a suggestive sign of the pathogenesis but further research is needed to confirm.

Notably, only eight of the 60 patients had a history of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, leading the team to hypothesize that some asymptomatic or mild infections may be enough to trigger an autoimmune response in susceptible individuals.

The data also show that the timing of the increase in positive MDA5 cases coincides with both disease waves and mass vaccination periods.

However, the research team emphasized that this is only an epidemiological observation, and it is not possible to determine a causal relationship between virus exposure, vaccination and the appearance of autoantibodies. The authors suggested that further large-scale studies are needed to clarify the risk factors and related mechanisms.

Warnings and future research directions

Experts believe MIP C may not be limited to Yorkshire. Case reports of similar symptoms have been reported in other countries, suggesting the syndrome may be linked to post-Covid-19 immune disorders and warrants more active surveillance in the future.

The authors recommend that physicians be on the lookout for symptoms such as characteristic rash, muscle weakness, persistent cough, or progressive dyspnea, especially in patients who develop MDA5 autoantibodies.

Early detection and treatment can help slow the progression of lung damage and improve the patient's prognosis.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/mot-hoi-chung-tu-mien-hiem-gap-duoc-ghi-nhan-gia-tang-20251130233309928.htm