BMC Neurology (May 2023)

Immunopathogenesis of viral infections in neurological autoimmune disease

  • Mohammad Amin Habibi,
  • Fatemeh Nezhad Shamohammadi,
  • Taraneh Rajaei,
  • Haideh Namdari,
  • Mohammad Reza Pashaei,
  • Hamid Farajifard,
  • Sajjad Ahmadpour

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03239-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Abstract Autoimmune diseases develop due to self-tolerance failure in recognizing self and non-self-antigens. Several factors play a role in inducing autoimmunity, including genetic and environmental elements. Several studies demonstrated the causative role of viruses; however, some studies showed the preventive effect of viruses in the development of autoimmunity. Neurological autoimmune diseases are classified based on the targets of autoantibodies, which target intracellular or extracellular antigens rather than neurons. Several theories have been hypothesized to explain the role of viruses in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and autoimmune diseases. This study reviewed the current data on the immunopathogenesis of viruses in autoimmunity of the nervous system.

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