Long COVID Atlas › Glossary › GPCR autoantibodies
MechanismGPCR autoantibodies
https://longcovidatlas.org/glossary/gpcr-autoantibodies
In plain language
What it is
Antibodies that mistakenly target the body's own receptors for controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
Why it matters
They are a leading proposed cause of post-COVID autonomic problems and the rationale behind trying antibody-directed treatments like IVIG.
Think of it like
Friendly fire aimed at the body's own control switches, so the dials no longer respond properly.
For specialists
Formal definition
Functional autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors, including adrenergic, muscarinic, and angiotensin-II receptors, reported in subsets of dysautonomia and long COVID.
Mechanism
These antibodies can act as agonists or antagonists at autonomic receptors, disturbing cardiovascular regulation; their causal role and treatment implications are still under test.
Sources
- Immunotherapies and receptor autoantibodies in POTS and long COVID (review) free full text ›