https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7892316/
Autoimmun Rev. 2021 Apr; 20(4): 102792.
Published online 2021 Feb 19. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102792
PMCID: PMC7892316
PMID: 33610751
The SARS-CoV-2 as an instrumental trigger of autoimmunity
Abstract
Autoimmunity may be generated by a variety of factors by creating a hyper-stimulated state of the immune system. It had been established long ago that viruses are a substantial component of environmental factors that contribute to the production of autoimmune antibodies, as well as autoimmune diseases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are viruses that withhold these autoimmune abilities. In a similar manner, SARS-CoV-2 may be counted to similar manifestations, as numerous records demonstrating the likelihood of COVID-19 patients to develop multiple types of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we focused onthe association between COVID-19 and the immune systemconcerningthe tendency of patients to develop over 15 separate types of autoantibodies and above 10 distinct autoimmune diseases. Anadditional autoimmunity manifestationmay be one of the common initial symptoms in COVID-19 patients,anosmia, the complete loss of the ability to sense smell, and other olfactory alterations. We summarize current knowledge on principal mechanisms that may contribute to the development of autoimmunity in the disease:the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to hyper-stimulate the immune system, induce excessive neutrophil extracellular traps formation with neutrophil-associated cytokine responses and the molecular resemblance between self-components of the host and the virus. Additionally, we will examineCOVID-19 potential risk on the new-onsets of autoimmune diseases, such asantiphospholipid syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Kawasaki disease and numerous others. It is of great importance to recognize thoseautoimmune manifestations of COVID-19in order to properly cope with their outcomes in the ongoing pandemic and the long-term post-pandemic period. Lastly, an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 may be the best solution in dealing with the ongoing pandemic. We will discuss the new messenger RNA vaccination strategy with an emphasis on autoimmunity implications.