swine flu virus kill by causing a 'cytokine storm'?

[Guest guest]

Mmmmmm, Cytokines ?? Wow imagine that??

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Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

Does new swine flu virus kill by causing a 'cytokine storm'?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/mali-dns050509.php

New Rochelle, NY, May 7, 2009-The swine flu outbreak that began in Mexico and

continues to spread around the globe may be particularly dangerous for young,

otherwise healthy adults as it may be able to induce a " cytokine storm, " in

which a patient's hyper-activated immune system causes potentially fatal damage

to the lungs. Research studies and review articles exploring the regulation of

cytokine responses in the lung and how infection-related dysregulation can cause

a cytokine storm have been published in Viral Immunology, a peer-reviewed

journal published by Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com/vim).

A cytokine storm occurs when the body's immune system over-reacts to an

intruder, such as a virus, by producing high levels of cytokines, which are

signaling chemicals that help mobilize immune cells capable of removing

infectious agents from the body. When too many cytokines are produced, they can

stimulate an inflammatory response in which the accumulation of immune cells and

fluid at the site of infection may prevent affected tissues and organs such as

the lungs from functioning properly and may even cause death.

Some influenza viruses can cause an unusually high proportion of deaths among

healthy young adults with well-functioning immune systems who become infected,

possibly due to this cytokine storm phenomenon. This phenomenon may also explain

why the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, for example, was also particularly

deadly for young healthy adults.

L. Woodland, PhD, Editor-in Chief of Viral Immunology, and President and

Director of the Trudeau Institute, Inc. (Saranac Lake, NY), emphasizes that

much is still not known about the current influenza outbreak and the

human/avian combination virus causing it. " We do not know how long ago this

virus emerged, how deadly it is, whether it has pandemic potential, how the

severity of infection relates to patient age, and why some infected patients

die—whether a cytokine storm is responsible for these deaths, " says Woodland.

What we do know, he adds, is that some H1N1 viruses have pandemic potential

and that historical evidence supports the possibility that young healthy adults

may be especially susceptible to more severe infection and poor outcomes due to

the ability of a strong immune system to initiate a cytokine storm.

###

Viral Immunology is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly

in print and online that presents the growing body of research in viral

immunology. Topics cover both human and animal viral immunology, exploring

viral-based immunological diseases, pathogenic mechanisms, and virus-associated

tumor and cancer immunology. The Journal includes original research articles,

review articles, and commentaries covering the spectrum of laboratory and

clinical research and exploring developments in vaccines and diagnostics

targeting viral infections. Tables of contents and a free sample issue may be

viewed online at www.liebertpub.com/vim

Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com), is a privately held, fully

integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed

journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Journal of Interferon and Cytokine

Research, and Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and

Science. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology

News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely

read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 60 journals, books,

and newsmagazines is available at www.liebertpub.com

[Guest guest]

BUT there is no need to panic! Everything is under control. I've heard

that so much it makes me scream!!

Sue

Mmmmmm, Cytokines ?? Wow imagine that??

Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

Does new swine flu virus kill by causing a 'cytokine storm'?

_http://www.eurekalehttp://www.http://wwhttp://www.euhttp://wwwhtt_

(http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/mali-dns050509.php)

New Rochelle, NY, May 7, 2009-The swine flu outbreak that began in Mexico

and continues to spread around the globe may be particularly dangerous for

young, otherwise healthy adults as it may be able to induce a " cytokine

storm, " in which a patient's hyper-activated immune system causes potentially

fatal damage to the lungs. Research studies and review articles exploring

the regulation of cytokine responses in the lung and how infection-related

dysregulation can cause a cytokine storm have been published in Viral

Immunology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Ann Liebert, Inc.

(www.liebertpub.

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