From SARS-CoV-2 to Myocarditis and Sudden Death via Molecular Mimicry and Immunologic Memory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cpms/v4/3200BKeywords:
SARS-CoV-2 spike gp, proteins related to cardiovascular diseases, peptide sharing, molecular mimicry, cross-reactivity, Immunologic imprinting, cardiovascular diseasesAbstract
This study aimed at defining the possible role of molecular mimicry and immunologic memory as mechanisms that might link the SARS-CoV-2 infection/immunization to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Human proteins that, when affected, associate with CVDs were investigated for pentapeptide immune determinants that are shared with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (gp).
Comparative sequence analyses reveal that SARS-CoV-2 spike gp and human proteins related to CVDs share a high level of peptide sharing; the shared peptides have immunological potential as they are also part of experimentally validated SARS-CoV-2 spike gp-derived epitopes, and the majority of the shared peptides are found in infectious pathogens to which the human population has been exposed in general.
Peptide sharing and cross-reactivity most likely represent, respectively, the molecular platform and the basic mechanism linking exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and CVDs, with the past history of the individual’s infections having a main role in determining and specifying the immune response as well as the pathologic autoimmune sequelae.
