The Role of Polymorphisms in Host Immune Genes in Determining the Severity of Respiratory Illness Caused by Pandemic H1N1 Influenza - FullText - Karger Publishers

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The Role of Polymorphisms in Host Immune Genes in Determining the Severity of Respiratory Illness Caused by Pandemic H1N1 Influenza - FullText - Karger Publishers

Vol. 16, No. 1-2, 2013

Issue release date: March 2013

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Public Health Genomics 2013;16:9-16
(DOI:10.1159/000345937)

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Paper

The Role of Polymorphisms in Host Immune Genes in Determining the Severity of Respiratory Illness Caused by Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Keynan Y.a-c,e · Malik S.d · Fowke K.R.a,b,e Departments ofaMedical Microbiology,bCommunity Health Sciences, andcInternal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., anddLaboratory for Foodborne Zoonosis, Office of Biotechnology, Genomics & Population Health, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ont., Canada;eDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya Corresponding Author

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 Outline

• Key Words



• Abstract


• Introduction


• Risk Factors Associated with Severity of the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Infection


• Immunogenetic Risk Factors Associated with Severity of the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Infection


• Killer Immmunoglobulin-Like Receptors


• CCR5∆32 Allele


• Immunoglobulin G2 Subclass Deficiency


• Additional Candidate Polymorphisms Contributing to Severe Pandemic H1N1 Influenza


• Vitamin D Immune Modulating Effects


• Gene Expression Studies - An Exploratory Tool for the Study of Genetic Susceptibility to H1N1 Infection


• Conclusions


• References

• Author Contacts


• Article Information


• Publication Details


• Drug Dosage / Copyright

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  Key Words


• CCR5


• H1N1 influenza


• Host genetics


• Immunoglobulin deficiency


• KIR


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  Abstract
Following the influenza epidemics, it has become clear that severity of illness is not uniform. Comorbidities and immunocompromise account for only a fraction of severe cases and do not explain the differential severity among the otherwise healthy during pandemics. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, a focus has been placed on better understanding of the determinants and pathogenesis of severe influenza infections. Much of the current literature has focused on viral genetics and its impact on host immunity as well as novel risk factors for severe infection (particularly within the H1N1 pandemic). The improved understanding of the cellular mechanisms and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of severe disease along with technological advances have allowed a more systematic approach to the exploration of the host genetic determinants of susceptibility and severe respiratory illness. By better defining the role of genetic variability in the immune responses to influenza, and identifying key polymorphisms that either protect against severe manifestation or those that impair the host immune response, it is possible to envision better methods to identify at-risk populations and new targets for therapeutic interventions and vaccines. This review will summarize the accumulated literature examining the immunogenetic factors associated with propensity for the development of severe pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) manifestations. We will focus on novel and key insights gained through study of ethnic populations that appeared more vulnerable to severe disease during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
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