Antigenic molecular mimicry in viral-mediated protection from cancer: the HIV case.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) show a reduced incidence for three cancer types, namely breast, prostate and colon cancers. In the present study, we assessed whether a molecular mimicry between HIV epitopes and tumor associated antigens and, consequently, a T cell cross-reactivity could provide an explanation for such an epidemiological evidence.

Methods

Homology between published TAAs and non-self HIV-derived epitopes have been assessed by BLAST homology. Structural analyses have been performed by bioinformatics tools. Immunological validation of CD8⁺ T cell cross-reactivity has been evaluated ex vivo by tetramer staining.

Findings

Sequence homologies between multiple TAAs and HIV epitopes have been found. High structural similarities betwee

SUBMITTER: Manolio C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9569184 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature