Evidence for Molecular Mimicry between SARS‐CoV‐2 and Human Antigens: Implications for Autoimmunity in COVID‐19

As for other viral diseases, the mechanisms behind the apparent relationship between COVID-19 and autoimmunity are yet to be clearly defined. Molecular mimicry, the existence of sequence and/or conformational homology between viral and human antigens, could be an important contributing factor. Here,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Autoimmune diseases 2024-08, Vol.2024 (1)
Main Authors: Arévalo-Cortés, Andrea, Rodriguez-Pinto, Daniel, Aguilar-Ayala, Leonardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Analysis
Antibodies
Antigen-antibody reactions
Antigens
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmunity
B cells
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines
Disease
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Health aspects
Homology
Immune system
Infections
Lymphocytes
Microorganisms
Mimicry
Multiple sclerosis
Nervous system
Pathogens
Pathology
Pathophysiology
Peptides
Proteins
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Viral antibodies
Viral diseases
Virus diseases
Viruses
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Summary:As for other viral diseases, the mechanisms behind the apparent relationship between COVID-19 and autoimmunity are yet to be clearly defined. Molecular mimicry, the existence of sequence and/or conformational homology between viral and human antigens, could be an important contributing factor. Here, we review the accumulated evidence supporting the occurrence of mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins. Both bioinformatic approaches and antibody cross-reactions have yielded a significant magnitude of mimicry events, far more common than expected to happen by chance. The clinical implication of this phenomenon is ample since many of the identified antigens may participate in COVID-19 pathophysiology or are targets of autoimmune diseases. Thus, autoimmunity related to COVID-19 may be partially explained by molecular mimicry and further research designed specifically to address this possibility is needed.
ISSN:2090-0422
2090-0430
2090-0430
DOI:10.1155/2024/8359683