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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Clin Rheumtol. 2010 Feb 1;5(1):59–74. doi: 10.2217/ijr.09.72

Figure 1. Molecular mimicry in virus induced autoimmunity.

Figure 1

Viruses can influence adaptive immunity through molecular mimicry (i.e., homology between exogenous and endogenous epitopes). Peptide sequences common to a virus (e.g., EBV protein) and a target lupus autoantigen (e.g., Sm) can induce autoantibodies [2,3]. HIV tat upregulates Rab4 producing functional mimicry [4]. EBV protein regulates apoptosis by making a bcl-2-like protein, which is also an example of functional mimicry.

EBV: Epstein–Barr virus; TTV: Transfusion-transmitted virus.