COVID-19 Contributes to The Onset or Worsening of Sjogren’s Syndrome-Related Dry Eye Disease
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 26, 2025 7 hours, 8 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists have long been investigating the ways COVID-19 affects the immune system beyond the initial infection. A recent study has now uncovered a possible link between COVID-19 and Sjögren’s syndrome-related dry eye disease, also known as Sjögren’s syndrome keratoconjunctivitis sicca (SS-KCS).
COVID-19 Contributes to The Onset or Worsening of Sjogren’s Syndrome-Related Dry Eye Disease
This autoimmune condition leads to severe dry eye symptoms and affects tear production, impacting the daily lives of many people worldwide.
This
Medical News report explores the findings of researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University and Southern Medical University in China, who conducted an in-depth analysis of how COVID-19 may influence the development and severity of SS-KCS. Their study employed advanced machine-learning techniques and genetic analysis to reveal key biological interactions between these two conditions, potentially offering new diagnostic and treatment strategies.
How COVID-19 May Trigger Autoimmune Responses
COVID-19 is widely known to cause a wide range of health complications, including lung infections, heart problems, and neurological issues. However, many patients have also reported experiencing autoimmune disorders after recovering from the virus. This study found that COVID-19 may contribute to the onset or worsening of Sjögren’s syndrome by triggering immune system dysfunction.
Researchers examined gene expression data from patients with COVID-19 and SS-KCS, identifying key immune-related genetic markers that overlapped between both conditions. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and machine-learning models, they discovered that two specific genes, CR1 and TAP2, play a crucial role in both diseases. CR1 is associated with immune regulation and complement system function, while TAP2 is linked to antigen processing, a key function of the immune system.
Key Study Findings and Immune Mechanisms
The study found that patients with severe COVID-19 exhibited significant changes in the expression of CR1 and TAP2. These genes were not only correlated with COVID-19 severity but also with immune responses typically observed in Sjögren’s syndrome. CR1 was found to be highly expressed in severe COVID-19 cases, while TAP2 showed higher expression levels in healthy individuals. This suggests that COVID-19 may disrupt immune homeostasis, potentially leading to the development of SS-KCS in susceptible individuals.
Another critical discovery was the altered immune cell composition in COVID-19 patients. The research showed that certain immune cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, were significantly increased in COVID-19 cases and were positively correlated with CR1 expression. On the other hand, cells that play a role in immune regulation, such as activated natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes, were negatively correlated with CR1 levels. These findings indicate that the immune
system imbalance caused by COVID-19 could contribute to autoimmune reactions in the eyes.
Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment
The study's findings have significant implications for medical professionals treating patients with post-COVID-19 complications. By identifying CR1 and TAP2 as key biomarkers, doctors may be able to predict which COVID-19 patients are at higher risk of developing autoimmune conditions such as SS-KCS. Early detection could lead to targeted interventions, potentially reducing the severity of dry eye disease and other related symptoms.
Moreover, understanding how COVID-19 affects the immune system at a genetic level may open doors to new treatments. Future therapies could focus on modulating immune responses to prevent the progression of SS-KCS and similar autoimmune disorders. Additionally, these findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for COVID-19 survivors, particularly those experiencing persistent eye-related symptoms.
Conclusion
This groundbreaking study provides strong evidence that COVID-19 may contribute to the onset or worsening of Sjögren’s syndrome-related dry eye disease. The identification of CR1 and TAP2 as common genetic factors linking both conditions sheds light on the immune mechanisms involved, paving the way for improved diagnostic tools and potential therapeutic strategies. As researchers continue to explore the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the immune system, these findings underscore the need for vigilance in monitoring post-COVID-19 complications and advancing treatment approaches.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Biomedicines.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/3/579
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