How do viruses trigger autoimmunity?
Two of the key mechanisms are “molecular mimicry” and “bystander activation”.
Molecular mimicry occurs when the part of the virus the B or T cells recognise looks similar to a normal protein in our body.
The B or T cell then sees both the viral and the self-protein as something to attack and eliminate.
What autoimmune conditions can COVID-19 trigger?
There are multiple reports of antibodies which recognise self-proteins, also known as autoantibodies, emerging in people with severe COVID-19.
Some of these autoantibodies that emerge in people with severe COVID recognise autoantibodies associated with well-known autoimmune diseases, including:
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which affects joints, skin, blood cells as well as organs such as the brain, lungs and kidneys
rheumatoid arthritis, affecting the joints
Guillain-Barré syndrome
immune thrombocytopenia, which attacks blood platelets, resulting in excessive bruising and bleeding
autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, which attacks red blood cells which can result in breathlessness, tiredness, headaches and chest pain.
https://theconversation.com/covid-19-increases-the-chance-of-getting-an-autoimmune-condition-heres-what-the-science-says-so-far-166819