About this Research Topic
From the end of 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quickly became a global health concern, accounting for more than 6 million deaths all over the world. The COVID-19 clinical spectrum is wide, ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to severe interstitial pneumonia with respiratory and even multi-organ failure with a high in-hospital mortality. This unpredictable situation fostered the development of targeted vaccination strategies, in order to limit the viral spread and mitigate the disease course. A huge amount of clinical and laboratory data was obtained during the pandemic, developing a deeper understanding of disease evolution, as well as of anti SARS-Cov-2 vaccine-related efficacy and safety.
It has been established that both the innate and acquired immune response plays a crucial role in COVID-19 progression and severity as well as in vaccine-induced protection. SARS-CoV-2 viral infection is known to impair antiviral protective defenses in infected hosts, resulting in dysregulated immune responses that - especially in frail populations - are also accompanied by an increase in autoinflammatory and autoimmune reactions. In particular, it has been observed that SARS-CoV-2 proteins could cross-react with tissue antigens, leading to the onset of new autoimmune disorders or pre-existing disease flare-ups due to the viral infection. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to autoantibody production, finally resulting in tissue injury through a type II hypersensitivity mechanism. As our knowledge in this field progresses, it is increasingly evident that autoimmunity is not only a COVID-19 drawback but could also represent a vaccine-related adverse event. While the vaccination campaign progresses, with more than 12 billion doses administered worldwide, COVID-19 vaccine-related autoimmune manifestations, mainly depending on molecular mimicry or particular autoantibodies production, are becoming an intriguing health concern that should be addressed in order to fight the mounting vaccine hesitancy.
This Research Topic will offer a deep insight into the most recent evidence regarding COVID-19-related autoimmune complications as well as vaccine-triggered autoimmune and autoinflammatory responses, which are highly relevant topics in translational and clinical research. Further, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 triggered autoimmune response would help to quickly start the appropriate treatment, while the clarification of the autoimmune adverse events related to vaccination would represent a successful strategy to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Both Review/Mini Review and Original Research articles are welcome.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases onset following SARS-CoV-2 infection
• COVID-19 progression in patients suffering from autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases
• Mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 triggered autoimmunity
• Pre-existing autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases flares during COVID-19
• Autoimmune responses as a result of anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• New autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases onset following anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• Anti-COVID-19 vaccination response in patients suffering from autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases
• Pre-existing autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases flares following anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• Autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases as a long-term COVID-19 sequelae.
It has been established that both the innate and acquired immune response plays a crucial role in COVID-19 progression and severity as well as in vaccine-induced protection. SARS-CoV-2 viral infection is known to impair antiviral protective defenses in infected hosts, resulting in dysregulated immune responses that - especially in frail populations - are also accompanied by an increase in autoinflammatory and autoimmune reactions. In particular, it has been observed that SARS-CoV-2 proteins could cross-react with tissue antigens, leading to the onset of new autoimmune disorders or pre-existing disease flare-ups due to the viral infection. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to autoantibody production, finally resulting in tissue injury through a type II hypersensitivity mechanism. As our knowledge in this field progresses, it is increasingly evident that autoimmunity is not only a COVID-19 drawback but could also represent a vaccine-related adverse event. While the vaccination campaign progresses, with more than 12 billion doses administered worldwide, COVID-19 vaccine-related autoimmune manifestations, mainly depending on molecular mimicry or particular autoantibodies production, are becoming an intriguing health concern that should be addressed in order to fight the mounting vaccine hesitancy.
This Research Topic will offer a deep insight into the most recent evidence regarding COVID-19-related autoimmune complications as well as vaccine-triggered autoimmune and autoinflammatory responses, which are highly relevant topics in translational and clinical research. Further, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 triggered autoimmune response would help to quickly start the appropriate treatment, while the clarification of the autoimmune adverse events related to vaccination would represent a successful strategy to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Both Review/Mini Review and Original Research articles are welcome.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases onset following SARS-CoV-2 infection
• COVID-19 progression in patients suffering from autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases
• Mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 triggered autoimmunity
• Pre-existing autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases flares during COVID-19
• Autoimmune responses as a result of anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• New autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases onset following anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• Anti-COVID-19 vaccination response in patients suffering from autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases
• Pre-existing autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases flares following anti-COVID-19 vaccination
• Autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases as a long-term COVID-19 sequelae.
Keywords: COVID-19 and autoimmunity
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