| Title: | Unraveling the Immune Signature of Herpes Zoster: Insights Into the Pathophysiology and Human Leukocyte Antigen Risk Profile |
| Journal: | The Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Published: | 9 Jan 2024 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38195164/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad609 |
Publication 8971
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Abstract
The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infects over 95% of the population. VZV reactivation causes herpes zoster (HZ), known as shingles, primarily affecting the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. However, HZ can also occur in otherwise healthy individuals. We analyzed the immune signature and risk profile in HZ patients using a genome-wide association study across different UK Biobank HZ cohorts. Additionally, we conducted one of the largest HZ HLA association studies to date, coupled with transcriptomic analysis of pathways underlying HZ susceptibility. Our findings highlight the significance of the MHC locus for HZ development, identifying five protective and four risk HLA alleles. This demonstrates that HZ susceptibility is largely governed by variations in the MHC. Furthermore, functional analyses revealed the upregulation of type I interferon and adaptive immune responses. These findings provide fresh molecular insights into the pathophysiology and the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses triggered by symptomatic VZV reactivation.</p>
24 Authors
- Romi Vandoren
- Marlies Boeren
- Jolien Schippers
- Esther Bartholomeus
- Kerry Mullan
- Nele Michels
- Olivier Aerts
- Julie Leysen
- An Bervoets
- Julien Lambert
- Elke Leuridan
- Johan Wens
- Karin Peeters
- Marie-Paule Emonds
- Hilde Jansens
- Jean-Laurent Casanova
- Paul Bastard
- Arvid Suls
- Viggo Van Tendeloo
- Peter Ponsaerts
- Peter Delputte
- Benson Ogunjimi
- Kris Laukens
- Pieter Meysman
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 70885 | Identifying genetic susceptibility factors for developing herpes zoster (HZ). |
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