title: Systemic sclerosis and infections.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular obliteration, excessive extracellular matrix deposition and fibrosis of the connective tissues of the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, heart, and kidneys. Numerous infectious agents (bacterial and viral) have been proposed as possible triggering factors (Parvovirus B19, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Retroviruses). Homology between viruses and autoantibody targets suggests that molecular mimicry may have a role in initiating antibody response in different disorders characterized by diffuse vascular disease, including SSc. Endothelial cell may be infected bacteria or viruses that play a particular role in inducing vasculitis. The pathogenic hypothesis include: a mechanism of molecular mimicry, the role played by endothelial cell damage, the presence of superantigens and the role of microchimeric cells. Although several studies provide important information linking infectious agents to SSc, a direct casual association between infections and SSc is still missing. In SSc viral products could synergize with other factors in the microenvironment predisposing to SSc development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, DENOThe Centre, Division of Rheumatology AOUC, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. issis74@libero.it
authors.forename: Silvia Bellando
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Randone
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guiducci
authors.forename: Marco Matucci
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cerinic
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D046528:Chimerism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D016481:Helicobacter Infections; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006564:Herpesviridae; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D012190:Retroviridae; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018089:Superantigens
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018089:Superantigens