Aim: To define the autoimmune potential of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods: Experimentally validated epitopes cataloged at the Immune Epitope DataBase (IEDB) and present in SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed for peptide sharing with the human proteome. Results: Immunoreactive epitopes present in SARS-CoV-2 were mostly composed of peptide sequences present in human proteins that—when altered, mutated, deficient or, however, improperly functioning—may associate with a wide range of disorders, from respiratory distress to multiple organ failure. Conclusions: This study represents a starting point or hint for future scientific–clinical investigations and suggests a range of possible protein targets of autoimmunity in SARS-CoV-2 infection. From an experimental perspective, the results warrant the testing of patients’ sera for autoantibodies against these protein targets. Clinically, the results warrant a stringent surveillance on the future pathologic sequelae of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
【저자키워드】 Autoimmunity, cross-reactivity, molecular mimicry, SARS-CoV-2 epitopes, peptide sharing, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, SARS-COV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Infection, peptide, coronavirus 2, Surveillance, sera, Autoimmune, proteome, multiple organ failure, respiratory, epitope, distress, autoantibody, starting point, disorders, Perspective, IEDB, sequence, protein targets, Protein target, analyzed, pathologic, composed, mutated, human protein, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, response, mimicry,