title: Infections and autoimmunity: role of human cytomegalovirus in autoimmune endothelial cell damage.
abstract: Molecular mimicry between infectious agents and normal human host cell proteins represents one of the possible mechanisms responsible for autoimmunity. Among infectious agents, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an ideal candidate for involvement in autoimmune disorders because of its lifelong persistence through periods of reactivation and latency and because of the extensive manipulation of innate and adaptive immunity. HCMV has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and atherosclerosis. Based on our data, which demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between HCMV and endothelial cell aggression in SSc and atherosclerosis, we propose that immune responses to particular HCMV proteins may result in autoaggression through a mechanism of molecular mimicry of normally expressed endothelial cell surface molecules.
authors: Institute Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dolcino
authors: Institute Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Puccetti
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Barbieri
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bason
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tinazzi
authors: University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ottria
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Patuzzo
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Martinelli
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy claudio.lunardi@univr.it.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lunardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa
keywords: HCMV; atherosclerosis; autoimmune response; endothelial cells; systemic sclerosis