Development of Spondyloarthritis After COVID-19 in HLAB27-Positive Monozygotic Twins: Case Reports With Single Cell Transcriptome Profiling
- Author:
Minae OH
1
;
Jung Gon KIM
;
In-Pyo BAEK
;
Ji Hyeon JU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2023;30(1):58-64
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: A subset of spondyloarthritis (SpA) called ‘reactive arthritis’ is triggered by causal pathogens, usually bacteria related to venereal disease or gastrointestinal infection. During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there have been case reports about SpA after COVID-19, but the causality is still elusive. We described cases of 23-year-old monozygotic twins both diagnosed with SpA after COVID-19. The probable linkage between SpA and COVID-19 was elaborated with our cases as well as literature reviews. Of note, shared genetic traits by monozygotic twins, particularly HLA-B27 positivity, might have contributed to their susceptibility to COVID-19-induced SpA. Moreover, single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that the transcriptomic profile of peripheral compartment of SpA after COVID-19 was distinctive from that of typical radiographic axial SpA as shown by differential expression of ribosomal protein S26 (RPS26) and small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5) in nearly all subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
