Immune Cells’ Gene Expression After Trauma

When I think of the genetics of disease, I nearly always think of hereditary conditions or chronic diseases like heart disease or cancer. But today I learned of a study that identified the way immune system genes respond to trauma.

Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 44 and younger. About one in three people experience multiple organ injury seven to ten days after severe injury for no discernible reason. One reason could be a change in the expression of genes related to T cells and macrophages; severe trauma could affect as many as 20% of all human genes.

• The expression of nearly 5,700 genes related to T cell function is changed in cases of massive trauma.
• 2,800 genes related to the function of macrophages have altered gene expression.
• Trauma had the most profound effect on just 338 of the genes, an at least two-fold change in their expression.
• Post-traumatic genetic changes had two major effects on T cells: a marked increase in regulatory protein pathways that diminished their function, and a decrease in signals that turn them on.

I am continually amazed at how genes can influence so many aspects of our health.

EurekAlert!, October 17, 2006

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