Goh Lynette, Kerkar Nanda
KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Pathogens. 2024 Jun 22;13(7):527. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13070527.
This review delves into the interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the host immune system, shedding light on how by using the mechanism of molecular mimicry, the virus strategically evades the immune system, resulting in a cascade of diverse complications. HCV, notorious for its ability to persistently infect hepatocytes, employs molecular mimicry to resemble host proteins, thereby avoiding immune detection and mounting an effective defense. This mimicry also triggers systemic autoimmune responses that lead to various sequelae. The objective of this review is to comprehensively explore the role of HCV-induced molecular mimicry, which not only facilitates viral survival but is also instrumental in developing autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. By mimicking host proteins, HCV triggers an immune response that inadvertently attacks the host, fostering the development of autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders. Understanding the nuanced mechanisms of HCV-mediated molecular mimicry provides crucial insights into the multifaceted sequelae of viral infections on host immune responses. Unravelling these complexities is paramount for advancing therapeutic strategies that not only target the virus directly but also mitigate the secondary autoimmune and inflammatory complications induced by HCV.
本综述深入探讨了丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）与宿主免疫系统之间的相互作用，揭示了该病毒如何通过分子模拟机制巧妙地逃避免疫系统，从而引发一系列复杂的并发症。HCV以其持续感染肝细胞的能力而臭名昭著，它利用分子模拟来模仿宿主蛋白，进而逃避免疫检测并建立有效的防御机制。这种模拟还会引发全身性自身免疫反应，导致各种后遗症。本综述的目的是全面探讨HCV诱导的分子模拟的作用，这不仅有助于病毒存活，还在自身免疫性疾病和炎症性疾病的发展中发挥重要作用。通过模仿宿主蛋白，HCV引发的免疫反应会不经意地攻击宿主，促进自身免疫性疾病和其他炎症性疾病的发展。了解HCV介导的分子模拟的细微机制，对于深入了解病毒感染对宿主免疫反应产生的多方面后遗症至关重要。揭示这些复杂性对于推进治疗策略至关重要，这些策略不仅要直接靶向病毒，还要减轻HCV引发的继发性自身免疫和炎症并发症。
