{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T19:05:51Z","timestamp":1771959951761,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771891200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The Post-COVID syndrome is associated with the generation of autoantibodies to vasoregulative G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). It remains elusive, however, whether these autoantibodies play a pathophysiological role in this disease. The present study investigates whether detection and concentration of GPCR autoantibodies are related to vascular function in patients with Post-COVID.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We performed a cross-sectional study, enrolling 80 patients with Post-COVID and 54 individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection without persisting symptoms (control group). ELISA measurement of GPCR autoantibodies encompassed autoantibodies to Angiotensin-II-Receptor-1 (AGTR2), Beta-1 Adrenergic Receptor (ADRB1), Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor (ADRB2), Endothelin Receptor (EDNRA), Muscarinergic Choline Receptor 3 (CHRM3), and Muscarinergic Choline Receptor 4 (CHRM4). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by flow mediated dilation (FMD). Measurement of central aortic blood pressure and capillary nailfold capillary microscopy were performed as additional assessments of vasoregulatory function. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) served as markers of vascular inflammation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>52 (65%) patients with Post-COVID had positive autoantibody findings above previously established cut-off values, the incidence was lower in the non-Post-COVID group (n\u2009=\u200912, 22.2%, p\u2009=\u20090.0001). The median concentrations for AGTR2, ADRB1, CHRM3 and CHRM4 autoantibodies were significantly higher in the symptomatic cohort (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05 each). Spearman correlation analysis showed a strong and significant negative correlation of several GPCR autoantibodies with aortic systolic blood pressure (AGTR2 p\u2009=\u20090.026, ADRB1 p\u2009=\u20090.001, ADRB2 p\u2009=\u20090.012) and aortic diastolic blood pressure (ADRB1 p\u2009=\u20090.005, CHRM4 p\u2009=\u20090.046) in Post-COVID. High EDNRA autoantibodies titers were associated with FMD (p\u2009=\u20090.038). There was no significant association of any GPCR autoantibody concentration with FMD or Lp-PLA2 in the control group.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>GPCR autoantibodies were highly prevalent in this Post-COVID cohort. Several GPCR autoantibodies were associated with measures of vasorelaxation like lower systolic and diastolic aortic blood pressure and stronger endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, given the absence of differences in microvascular and macrovascular function, the precise role of GPCR autoantibodies remains elusive.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0343264","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,24]],"date-time":"2026-02-24T18:22:31Z","timestamp":1771957351000},"page":"e0343264","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors autoantibodies with vasoregulation in Post-COVID"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4347-2481","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Felix 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