Molecular mimicry and autoimmunity

Infección por SARS-CoV-2 asociada a diplopía y anticuerpos antirreceptor de acetilcolina

“…El paciente no presenta factores de riesgo cardiovasculares ni lesiones ocupantes de espacio o vasculares en neuroimagen que justifiquen la sintomatología. Si bien puede tratarse de una miastenia gravis latente desenmascarada por el proceso infeccioso, proponemos también la posibilidad de que el agente viral sea el responsable primario del proceso, produciendo un estado autoinmune con tropismo sobre la unión neuromuscular en base a un fenómeno de mimetismo molecular (6). Es necesario realizar un seguimiento clínico y serológico del paciente para comprobar evolución y posibles cambios analíticos.…”

Minding the gap: The impact of B‐cell tolerance on the microbial antibody repertoire

“…56,87 In consequence, over iterative rounds of selection, successful pathogens would better disguise their vulnerable epitopes as autoantigens, allowing them to slip into the "gaps" in the Ab repertoire. 89,90 However, in nearly all of these cases, the antigenic similarities were discovered due to the positive identification of Abs that cross-reacted with host and pathogen antigens and that frequently were associated with autoimmune pathology. 56 At the time the tolerance hypothesis was formulated, many instances of antigenic similarities between hosts and pathogens were already known, 56 and more cases of molecular mimicry have been described since.…”

“…56 At the time the tolerance hypothesis was formulated, many instances of antigenic similarities between hosts and pathogens were already known, 56 and more cases of molecular mimicry have been described since. 89,90 However, in nearly all of these cases, the antigenic similarities were discovered due to the positive identification of Abs that cross-reacted with host and pathogen antigens and that frequently were associated with autoimmune pathology.…”

Infection History Determines Susceptibility to Unrelated Diseases

“…Whether a T cell or an antibody cross‐reacts with different antigens is determined by the sequence and structural similarities of these antigens. Such similarities, also known as molecular mimicry, can occur between self‐ and foreign antigens . Importantly, molecular mimicry can result in autoimmunity through inappropriate responses of cross‐reactive T cells that were primed during microbial encounters and are subsequently activated by recognition of self‐antigens .…”

“…Such similarities, also known as molecular mimicry, can occur between self‐ and foreign antigens . Importantly, molecular mimicry can result in autoimmunity through inappropriate responses of cross‐reactive T cells that were primed during microbial encounters and are subsequently activated by recognition of self‐antigens . Conversely, T‐cell clones with a strong affinity towards a specific self‐antigen will be deleted during their maturation process and thereby the T‐cell pool responsive towards a similar microbial or tumor antigen might be reduced …”