INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY, cilt.333, ss.174-183, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune disease caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GAS) and may develop into rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The pathogenesis of ARF and RHD involves molecular mimicry and antibody-mediated mechanisms. T cell involvement is described in various stages of the disease. Mucosal associated invariant T (MATT) cells are enriched at the mucosa and are present in the blood and may be activated by GAS.