Exploring the clinical and immunopathological association between Long COVID and Sjögren's Disease in mice and humans

Long COVID, now recognized as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), represents a significant and growing concern in public health and medical communities. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, the long-term consequences of the virus are becoming increasingly evident. A notable portion of individuals, even after recovering from the acute stage of COVID-19, report enduring symptoms and health complications persisting for weeks to months.

 

Preliminary epidemiological research indicates that about 10-30% of COVID-19 survivors might suffer from long COVID symptoms. Among these manifestations is Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune condition characterized by dry eyes and mouth symptoms. The disease can also have systemic impacts, affecting various organs and systems, including the skin, joints, respiratory system, and nervous system, highlighting the diverse and profound nature of long COVID.

 

Here, we conducted an analysis of Sjögren´s disease mouse models, including the quantification of 43 biomarkers using Olink Target 48 Mouse cytokine panel to elucidate the mechanisms driving Sjögren´s disease and correlating the cytokine levels with acute and chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

 

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