Pradipta Ghosh, M.D., a professor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, was approached by Dennis McGonagle, Ph.D., from the University of Leeds in the U.K., to collaborate on a mysterious COVID-related syndrome. They discovered a rare autoimmune disease called MDA5-autoantibody associated dermatomyositis (DM) in patients who had been vaccinated and may or may not have been exposed to COVID-19. Some of these patients were rapidly progressing to death.
The collaboration between Ghosh and McGonagle, along with the support of the Institute for Network Medicine at UC San Diego, led to the identification of a new syndrome known as MDA5-autoimmunity and Interstitial Pneumonitis Contemporaneous with COVID-19 (MIP-C). This syndrome was characterized by severe lung scarring and rheumatologic symptoms. The team used the computational power of the Institute for Network Medicine to analyze data and identify a specific single nucleotide polymorphism that is protective against MIP-C.
The study involved a team of researchers from UC San Diego and the University of Leeds, including Saptarshi Sinha, Paula David Ramos, Ella McLaren, and Sahar Taheri. Through their analysis, they found that patients with high levels of MDA5 response also had elevated levels of interleukin-15, a cytokine that is associated with progressive interstitial lung disease. This finding could potentially lead to new treatments for MIP-C.
The NHS in the U.K. provided a centralized health care database that allowed for the comprehensive analysis of patient data. The team was able to establish a connection between MDA5-autoimmunity and COVID-19, leading to the discovery of MIP-C. Ghosh highlighted the importance of identifying interleukin-15 as a causative link and hopes that this research will spark further investigations into treatment options for this syndrome.
The collaboration between Ghosh and McGonagle, along with the support of the Institute for Network Medicine at UC San Diego, sheds light on a previously overlooked COVID-related syndrome. Their research has global implications, as reports of MIP-C symptoms are emerging from around the world. By identifying key biomarkers and protective genetic variants, the team has made significant strides in understanding and potentially treating this new syndrome.
Overall, the collaboration between researchers in the U.S. and the U.K. has led to the discovery of MIP-C, a new syndrome associated with COVID-19. Through computational analysis and genetic research, the team has identified key factors that contribute to the progression of this syndrome. Their findings have the potential to impact the development of treatments for MIP-C and advance our understanding of autoimmune diseases in the context of COVID-19.
