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[Is type I diabetes a virus-induced disease?]
D Falke1, H Müntefering, D Stallmach
1Abteilung für experimentelle Virologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|June 24, 1988
Summary
Viruses can cause autoimmune diseases like insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) through molecular mimicry. Proving this link requires supplementing Koch's postulates with amino acid homology analysis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis
Context:
- Investigating the etiological relationship between viral infections and disease development.
- Examining the challenges in proving viral causation, especially in "hit and run" scenarios.
- Focusing on insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) as a case study.
Purpose:
- To critically review the conditions for viral disease causation.
- To explore the mechanisms by which viruses induce autoimmune diseases.
- To evaluate the "molecular mimicry" hypothesis in viral pathogenesis.
Summary:
- Viral infections can lead to autoimmune diseases, exemplified by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
- Coxsackie B and mumps viruses are implicated, with "molecular mimicry" proposed as a key mechanism.
- This hypothesis involves viral protein homology with host proteins, triggering an autoimmune response.
Impact:
- Suggests supplementing Koch's postulates with amino acid homology assays for viral disease attribution.
- Highlights the role of virological and immunological factors in autoimmune disease development.
- Provides a unifying framework for understanding virus-induced autoimmunity.