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Czaja AJ. Incorporating the Molecular Mimicry of Environmental Antigens into the Causality of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Dig Dis Sci 2023:10.1007/s10620-023-07967-5. [PMID: 37160542 PMCID: PMC10169207 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mimicry between foreign and self-antigens has been implicated as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis in experimental models and cross-reacting antibodies in patients. This review describes the experimental and clinical evidence for molecular mimicry as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis, indicates the limitations and uncertainties of this premise, and encourages investigations that assess diverse environmental antigens as sources of disease-relevant molecular mimics. Pertinent articles were identified in PubMed using multiple search phrases. Several pathogens have linear or conformational epitopes that mimic the self-antigens of autoimmune hepatitis. The occurrence of an acute immune-mediated hepatitis after vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has suggested that vaccine-induced peptides may mimic disease-relevant tissue antigens. The intestinal microbiome is an under-evaluated source of gut-derived antigens that could also engage in molecular mimicry. Chaperone molecules may enhance the pathogenicity of molecular mimics, and they warrant investigation. Molecular mimics of immune dominant epitopes within cytochrome P450 IID6, the autoantigen most closely associated with autoimmune hepatitis, should be sought in diverse environmental antigens and assessed for pathogenicity. Avoidance strategies, dietary adjustments, vaccine improvement, and targeted manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may emerge as therapeutic possibilities. In conclusion, molecular mimicry may be a missing causality of autoimmune hepatitis. Molecular mimics of key immune dominant epitopes of disease-specific antigens must be sought in diverse environmental antigens. The ubiquity of molecular mimicry compels rigorous assessments of peptide mimics for immunogenicity and pathogenicity in experimental models. Molecular mimicry may complement epigenetic modifications as causative mechanisms of autoimmune hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Czaja
- Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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Li S, Song G, Bai Y, Song N, Zhao J, Liu J, Hu C. Applications of Protein Microarrays in Biomarker Discovery for Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:645632. [PMID: 34012435 PMCID: PMC8126629 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.645632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated autoantibodies and cytokines were deemed to provide important cues for potential illnesses, such as various carcinomas and autoimmune diseases. Increasing biotechnological approaches have been applied to screen and identify the specific alterations of these biomolecules as distinctive biomarkers in diseases, especially autoimmune diseases. As a versatile and robust platform, protein microarray technology allows researchers to easily profile dysregulated autoantibodies and cytokines associated with autoimmune diseases using various biological specimens, mainly serum samples. Here, we summarize the applications of protein microarrays in biomarker discovery for autoimmune diseases. In addition, the key issues in the process of using this approach are presented for improving future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siting Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
| | - Guang Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yina Bai
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
| | - Ning Song
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
| | - Jiuliang Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Aerospace, Clinical Medical College, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaojun Hu
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
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