Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Clinical features of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Acute infection management is a substantial health care issue, and the development of a Long-Covid syndrome (LCS) is extremely challenging for patients and physicians. It is associated with a variety of characteristics as e.g. impaired capillary microcirculation, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and functional autoantibodies targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR-AAb). Here, we present a case report of a successful healing of LCS with BC 007 (Berlin Cures, Berlin, Germany), a DNA aptamer drug with high affinity to GPCR-AAbs that neutralizes these AAbs. A patient with a documented history of glaucoma, recovered from mild COVID-19, but still suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome, loss of taste and impaired capillary microcirculation in the macula and peripapillary region. He was positively tested for various targeting GPCR-AAbs. Within 48 h after a single BC 007 treatment, GPCR-AAbs were functionally inactivated and remained inactive during the observation period of 4 weeks. This observation was accompanied by a constant improvement of the patient’s fatigue symptoms, and taste as well as retinal capillary microcirculation. This phenotype is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report worldwide of a direct cure of symptoms of LCS. Therefore, we propose that removal of GPCR-AAb ameliorates characteristics of the Long-Covid-Syndrome such as capillary impairment, loss of taste and CFS.

Note: Funding: None.

Declaration of Interests: Haberland A (employed by Berlin Cures GmbH, shareholders of Berlin Cures Holding AG, the holding company of Berlin Cures), Göttel P (employed by Berlin Cures GmbH,shareholders of Berlin Cures Holding AG, the holding company of Berlin Cures), Müller J (employed by Berlin Cures GmbH, shareholders of Berlin Cures Holding AG, the holding company of Berlin Cures), Wallukat G(employed by Berlin Cures GmbH, shareholders of Berlin Cures Holding AG, the holding company of Berlin Cures). All other authors none.

Patient Informed Consent Statement: The patient has given written informed consent in the experimental therapy.

Keywords: Functional GPCR autoantibodies; COVID-19, Long-COVID Syndrome; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, BC 007, OCT angiography, Glaucoma