Description
STORM, which stands for Spike-Triggered Autoimmune Response Mechanism, is a theory proposed by Dr. Philip McMillan to explain potential widespread effects of COVID-19 in the body. According to this theory, even when people have mild or no respiratory symptoms, the SARS-CoV-2 virus might be causing inflammation and damage throughout various organs. This is particularly concerning because it suggests that COVID-19 could be having more extensive impacts on health than previously thought, even in cases that appear mild.
The key concepts of STORM include the role of IgG4 antibodies, viral persistence, and multi-organ involvement. IgG4 antibodies, which are associated with immune tolerance, may allow the virus to persist in the body without being effectively cleared by the immune system. This can lead to viral sepsis, where the virus continuously circulates in the bloodstream. The virus can then potentially affect multiple organs due to the widespread presence of ACE2 receptors, which the virus uses to enter cells. A mouse study using fluorescently labeled spike proteins showed that unlike influenza, which mainly concentrated in the lungs, the COVID-19 spike protein appeared to accumulate in various organs including the brain, heart, kidneys, and intestines.
