| Presentation preference | Oral presentation |
| Title | Bioinformatic protein sequence and 3D structure similarity between retinal and endothelial cell proteins and antigens. A mathematical in-silico model of molecular mimickry and AI response using SARS-COV2 as example. |
| Purpose | Sequence and 3D similarities of viral and human proteins may trigger AI reactions afterinfections due to similarities between viral and human structures. |
| Methods | Using SARS-COV2 as a model, we investigate the protein sequence similarity between retinal proteins, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) surface proteins and 158 retinal vascular endothelial cell proteins and the virus proteins(Protein S, N, M, E and ORF1ab). Protein similarity comparison, 3D protein structure prediction, T cell epitopes-MHC binding prediction, B cell epitopes-MHC binding prediction and the evaluation of antigenicity were assessed. |
| Results | We found meaningful similarities between 6 RPE surface transport proteins (MRP-4, MRP-5, RFC1, SNAT7, TAUT and MATE) and the SARS CoV-2 E-protein. Immunoreactive epitopic sites of these proteins which are similar to protein E epitope can create an immune stimulation on T-cytotoxic and T-helper cells. There was also a high structural similarity between E protein and ACE, ACE-2, LAT-1 and TM9SF4 endothelial proteins. PECAM1 was structurally similar to ORF1ab- and S protein. TLR-2 and TLR-3, which are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV2, showed a potential receptor-protein interaction with retinal vascular endothelial proteins. |
| Conclusion | These results imply that AI cross-reaction is likely between retinal cell proteins and SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The potential of molecular mimicry may be assessed using mathematical in-silico models and may help to predict autoimmune response. |
| Conflict of interest | No |
Authors 1
| Last name | MUNK |
| Initials of first name(s) | MRM |
| Department | Gutblick |
| City | Bern |
| Country | Switzerland |
Authors 2
| Last name | Karabaş |
| Initials of first name(s) | L |
| Department | University of Health Science, Derince Training and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Department |
| City | Istanbul |
| Country | Turkey |
Authors 3
| Last name | Kaya |
| Initials of first name(s) | M |
| Department | Diagen Biotechnology, Ankara, Turkey |
| City | Istanbul |
| Country | Turkey |
Authors 4
| Last name | Rückert |
| Initials of first name(s) | R |
| Department | Eyegnos Consulting |
| City | Bern |
| Country | Switzerland |
Authors 5
| Last name | Kutluturk Karagöz |
| Initials of first name(s) | I |
| Department | Ümraniye Trn. And Rch. Hospital, Division of Ophthalmology |
| City | Istanbul |
| Country | Turkey |
