Epigenetics of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: Molecular Mimicry between Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and KISSR

Glob Med Genet. 2023 Jun 23;10(2):129-132. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1770767. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Abstract

This study analyzed KISS1 and its receptor KISSR for peptide sharing with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was found that SARS-CoV-2 shares numerous minimal immune pentapeptide determinants with KISSR only. The peptide sharing has a high immunologic potential since almost all the common peptides are present in 101 SARS-CoV-2-derived immunoreactive epitopes. Data are in favor of configuring molecular mimicry as an epigenetic factor that can alter KISSR thus causing the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism syndrome with which altered KISSR associates.

Keywords: KISSR; SARS-CoV-2; autoimmunity: hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

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