COVID-19 vaccine-induced systemic lupus erythematosus: The underlying immunological and genetic mechanisms

Objective Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is complexed with multi systemic involvements associated with genetic and environmental factors. Herein, we delve into the molecular mechanism behind COVID-19 vaccine-induced SLE. Methods To elucidating the molecular mechanism, we employed the whole genome sequencing (WGS) and immune cell RNA sequencing of CD4 + T, CD8 + T, and B cells. Results Our findings suggest that in genetically predisposed individuals, COVID-19 vaccination might provoke SLE by triggering host-harbored virus signaling and cytokine pathway-associated immune response. Conclusions This study deepens the underlying mechanism and highlights the importance of evaluating the genetic susceptibility to autoimmune disease before COVID-19 vaccination.