From the Guidelines
Parasitic infections, such as Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, can trigger autoimmune diseases, including chronic autoimmune myocarditis, by inducing an immune response that attacks the body's own tissues 1.
Autoimmune Diseases Triggered by Parasitic Infections
Several parasitic infections have been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases. These include:
- Chagas disease, which can lead to chronic autoimmune myocarditis, as the immune system attacks heart tissue 1
- Schistosomiasis, particularly from Schistosoma mansoni infection, linked to autoimmune hepatitis and glomerulonephritis
- Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, associated with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
- Malaria parasites, which can trigger autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Leishmaniasis, connected to systemic lupus erythematosus in some cases
Mechanisms of Autoimmune Triggering
The connections between parasitic infections and autoimmune diseases occur through several mechanisms, including:
- Molecular mimicry, where parasite proteins resemble human tissues, leading to an immune response against the body's own tissues
- Bystander activation, where inflammation from infection activates self-reactive immune cells
- Epitope spreading, where immune responses expand to target self-antigens
Treatment Approaches
Treatment of autoimmune diseases triggered by parasitic infections typically involves a two-pronged approach:
- Addressing the parasitic infection with appropriate antiparasitic medications
- Managing the autoimmune component with immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, or other immune-modulating therapies tailored to the specific autoimmune condition 1
From the Research
Autoimmune Diseases Triggered by Parasitic Infections
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to parasitic infections, with some studies suggesting that helminths can minimize the occurrence and severity of RA 2
- Parasitic infections can serve as a trigger factor for autoimmune reactivity, with mechanisms including the presence of autoantibodies or T-cells with autoreactivity 3
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has also been associated with parasitic infections, although the relationship between the two remains elusive 4
- Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, with a higher seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies found in RA patients compared to SLE patients 5
Mechanisms of Autoimmune Disease Triggered by Parasitic Infections
- Molecular mimicry, where parasites have cross-reactive molecules that can stimulate autoreactivity 3
- Altered self-antigens, where parasite material is adsorbed to surrounding host cells, leading to the release of self-antigens and stimulation of autoreactivity 3
- Immunomodulation, where parasitic infections can induce variable immunomodulatory effects and control of autoimmune disease 5