Scientists have found a potential cause of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) linked to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infections.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a link between a SARS-CoV-2 protein and the onset of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children . MIS-C is a pediatric disorder characterized by widespread inflammation throughout the body. The new findings describe a case of molecular mimicry, where a section of a protein from SARS-CoV-2 closely resembles the human protein SNX8, confusing the immune system and sparking inflammation.
This is the first study to identify molecular mimicry as one of the immunological mechanisms behind the development of MIS-C."Understanding this mechanism going forward may help improve diagnosis and treatment," Thomas added.Believing that there may be a link between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and the syndrome, the researchers used samples from patients with MIS-C to identify autoantigens associated with the condition.
Echoing this sentiment, co-senior author Joseph DeRisi, PhD, University of California San Francisco, stated,"We've identified the smoking gun -- what made these kids so sick. This discovery opens the door to understanding why so many of these post-infectious, horribly inflammatory autoimmune events occur."
The study was supported by the Pediatric Scientist Development Program and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship award , and ALSAC, the fundraising awareness organization of St. Jude.Aaron Bodansky, Robert C. Mettelman, Joseph J. Sabatino, Sara E.
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