From Viral Infection to Autoimmune Reaction: Exploring the Link Between Human Herpesvirus 6 and Autoimmune Diseases

Overview

Journal Microorganisms

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 Feb 24

PMID 38399766

Authors

Liba Sokolovska

Maksims cistjakovs

Asnate Matroze

Modra Murovska

Alina Sultanova

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The complexity of autoimmunity initiation has been the subject of many studies. Both genetic and environmental factors are essential in autoimmunity development. Among others, environmental factors include infectious agents. HHV-6 is a ubiquitous human pathogen with a high global prevalence. It has several properties suggestive of its contribution to autoimmunity development. HHV-6 has a broad cell tropism, the ability to establish latency with subsequent reactivation and persistence, and a range of immunomodulation capabilities. Studies have implicated HHV-6 in a plethora of autoimmune diseases-endocrine, neurological, connective tissue, and others-with some studies even proposing possible autoimmunity induction mechanisms. HHV-6 can be frequently found in autoimmunity-affected tissues and lesions; it has been found to infect autoimmune-pathology-relevant cells and influence immune responses and signaling. This review highlights some of the most well-known autoimmune conditions to which HHV-6 has been linked, like multiple sclerosis and autoimmune thyroiditis, and summarizes the data on HHV-6 involvement in autoimmunity development.

Citing Articles

Emerging Mechanisms and Biomarkers Associated with T-Cells and B-Cells in Autoimmune Disorders.

Sivalingam A Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2025; 68(1):14.

PMID: 39932617 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-025-09022-9.

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