Afucosylated antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 account for more severe disease

Research by the group of Gestur Vidarsson shows a relation between COVID-19 severity and antibody glycosulation. Just before Christmas Science published that critically ill patients, but not those with mild symptoms have high levels of afucosylated IgG. This amplified cytokine storms and immune-mediated pathologies.

Vidarsson had this type of antibodies already at the forefront of his mind, as they play a role in blood cell diseases: “Lowered IgG-Fc fucosylation is one of the factors determining disease severity in pregnancy-associated alloimmunizations, resulting in excessive thrombocytopenia and red blood cell destruction when targeted by afucosylated antibodies.”