title: Molecular mimicry between virus and host and its implications for dengue disease pathogenesis.
abstract: Numerous infectious agents may trigger autoimmunity or even result in autoimmune diseases. Several mechanisms have been proposed for pathogen-triggered autoimmunity including molecular mimicry, cryptic antigens, epitope spreading, bystander activation and polyclonal activation. In the case of dengue virus infection which causes serious public health problems, the mechanisms regarding the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic syndrome are not fully resolved. Our previous studies suggest a mechanism of molecular mimicry in which antibodies directed against dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) cross-react with human platelets and endothelial cells and cause their damage and dysfunction, which may be related to the clinical features of dengue disease. Several cell surface proteins recognized by patient serum samples and anti-NS1 antibodies have been identified. Based on proteomic studies and sequence analysis, the C-terminal region of dengue virus NS1 shows sequence homology with target proteins. In addition, different regions of dengue virus proteins including core, prM, E and NS1 proteins show sequence homology with different coagulatory molecules. As an example, the amino acid sequence 101-106 of E protein (WGNGCG) shows sequence homology with factors XI, X, IX, VII, II (thrombin), plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator. Furthermore, single chain variable region against NS1 can interfere with fibrin formation, which leads to prolonged thrombin time. We hypothesize that molecular mimicry between dengue virus proteins and coagulatory molecules may induce cross-reactive autoantibodies that can interfere with coagulation activation. A molecular mimicry pathogenesis for dengue disease which involves cross-reactivity of dengue virus with human endothelial cells, platelets and coagulatory molecules is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan. yslin1@mail.ncku.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yee-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Trai-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chiou-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Yung-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Tan-Kuei
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hsiao-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ching-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Huan-Yao
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins