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SARS-CoV-2 and human retroelements: a case for molecular mimicry?
Koch, Benjamin Florian.
  • Koch BF; Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Goethe University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. B.Koch@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
BMC Genom Data ; 23(1): 27, 2022 04 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1840943
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The factors driving the late phase of COVID-19 are still poorly understood. However, autoimmunity is an evolving theme in COVID-19's pathogenesis. Additionally, deregulation of human retroelements (RE) is found in many viral infections, and has also been reported in COVID-19.

RESULTS:

Unexpectedly, coronaviruses (CoV) - including SARS-CoV-2 - harbour many RE-identical sequences (up to 35 base pairs), and some of these sequences are part of SARS-CoV-2 epitopes associated to COVID-19 severity. Furthermore, RE are expressed in healthy controls and human cells and become deregulated after SARS-CoV-2 infection, showing mainly changes in long interspersed nuclear element (LINE1) expression, but also in endogenous retroviruses.

CONCLUSION:

CoV and human RE share coding sequences, which are targeted by antibodies in COVID-19 and thus could induce an autoimmune loop by molecular mimicry.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMC Genom Data Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12863-022-01040-2

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMC Genom Data Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12863-022-01040-2