Forbes has a report on avian flu and cytokines (via Instapundit).
As concern mounts over the potential spread of avian flu to humans, researchers believe they've discovered one reason why the infection can prove so deadly.
A cytokine storm is an exagerated immune response resulting in a build-up of T-cells and fluids in the lungs. The experiments that show that this particular virus may trigger such a response may be new but the knowledge of cytokines is decades old. The article makes it all sound pretty frightening, doesn't it?
After infection with H5N1, levels of the chemokine IP-10 in bronchial epithelial cells reach 2200 picograms [a picogram is one-trillionth of a gram] per milliliter, compared with only 200 picograms per milliliter in cells infected with H1N1.
Other than giving possible clues for the treatment of H5N1, I can't tell from this article if the research on the immune reaction is significant. Wouldn't you expect a new strain to cause a stronger reaction than a flu with several variations that have been in circulation for years?
Posted by marybeth at November 13, 2005 04:54 AM Science