H1N1 Deaths and Autoimmunity?

Individuals who develop serious pneumonia from H1N1 infection may have an autoimmune disorder, according to a study reported on in the Dec. 15, 2009, edition of Newswise. According to the study, the overproduction of the immune system component interleukin-17 may be responsible for serious illness and even death. Patients who were hospitalized with H1N1 were found to have elevated levels of interleukin-17, a substance that can cause an excess number of white blood cells to respond to lung injury caused by the H1N1 virus, which results in increased inflammation in the lungs.

“In rare instances, the virus causes lung infections requiring patients to be treated in hospital. By targeting or blocking TH17 (interleukin-17) in the future, we could potentially reduce the amount of inflammation in the lungs and speed up recovery,” says Dr. David Kelvin, head of the study in Canada. Study authors say that possible future interventions could include a blood test to identify those who are at high risk of developing autoimmunity in the case of H1N1 infection and potentially using drugs to regulate interleukin-17.