RNA Viruses and Autoimmunity: A Short Overview
Abstract
RNA viruses are a large group of widespread and extremely prevalent pathogens capable of eliciting a broad spectrum of innate and adaptive immune responses. Additionally, persistent infection by some RNA viruses can induce or enhance accelerated immune activation. The hypothesis that molecular mimicry is implicated in autoimmunity was first proposed in 1987. Since then, a growing evidence from medical literature of a possible role for viral infection in autoimmunity has risen. In particular, enteroviruses have been investigated as possible causes of type 1 diabetes. Some hypotheses have put forward the possible implication of hepatitis A virus in autoimmune phenomena. The two most prevalent RNA viruses causing chronic infection, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), are both associated with autoimmune disorders. HCV can trigger and sustain a clonal B-cell expansion which causes a wide spectrum of autoimmune/lymphoproliferative disorders, through a multistep process. Similarly, HIV is responsible for derangement of the immune regulation and is associated with some autoimmune disorders, such as autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Nevertheless, a formal scientific demonstration of an etiological relationship between any RNA virus and a major autoimmune disease has not yet been obtained.
Keywords
Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis C virus Enterovirus Human immunodeficiency virus CryoglobulinemiaAbbreviations
- AHA
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- ANA
Antinuclear antibody
- Anti-LKM
Anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibodies
- CA
Coxsackie A viruses
- cART
Combined antiretroviral therapy
- CB
Coxsackie B viruses
- CD4+ T cells
Helper T lymphocytes
- CV
Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
- DCM
Dilated cardiomyopathy
- DM
Dermatomyositis
- GAD65
Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantigen
- MGN
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- HAV
Hepatitis A virus
- HCV
Hepatitis C virus
- HIV-1
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
- IRIS
Immune restoration inflammatory syndrome
- PM
Polymyositis
- PsA
Psoriatic arthritis
- RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
- RNA
Ribonucleic acid
- SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus
- T1D
Type 1 diabetes
- TCR
T-cell receptor
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