THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
VACCINATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.
MANOLE. COJOCARU1*, INIMIOARA MIHAELA COJOCARU2, MANUELA-ANDA RADU-POPESCU3, ANDREEA LETIŢIA ARSENE4
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, ”Titu Maiorescu”
University, No.67A Gheorghe Petraşcu Str., Bucharest
2Clinic of Neurology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Colentina Clinical Hospital, No.19-21 Stefan cel Mare Str., Bucharest
3Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy
„Carol Davila”, Faculty of Pharmacy, Traian Vuia 6, Sect. 2, 020956,
Bucharest, Romania
4Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy
„Carol Davila”, Faculty of Pharmacy, Traian Vuia 6, Sect. 2, 020956,
Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: manole_cojocaru@yahoo.com
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Abstract:

The potential association between vaccination and autoimmune diseases has been largely questioned in the past few years, but this assumption has mostly been based on clinical case reports, and not on scientifically demonstrated mechanisms. In this regard, the safety aspects of vaccination in patients with previously diagnosed autoimmune disease is of particular relevance. Experimental and clinical research performed in this field showed that acquired autoimmunity syndromes occur usually after viral vaccinations. One of the proposed hypothesis is molecular mimicry, when a structural similarity exists between some viral antigen (or other component within the vaccine formulation) and a self-antigen. This similarity may be the trigger to the autoimmune reaction. Molecular mimicry in itself is not sufficient to trigger autoimmune pathology, but other factors, intrinsic to infections, such as tissue damage and long-lasting inflammatory reaction, might be required as well.
Therefore a potential correlation between vaccines and autoimmune diseases cannot be definitely ruled out and should be carefully explored during the development of new candidate vaccines.

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