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Polymorphism in clinical immunology - From HLA typing to immunogenetic profiling
1Immunogenetics Section - Department of Transfusion Medicine - Clinical Center - National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland USA. EWang@mail.cc.nih.gov
Journal of Translational Medicine
|November 20, 2003
Summary
Human pathology is complex due to genetic diversity (polymorphism). This review explores immune polymorphism and advocates for immunogenetic profiling to understand disease heterogeneity and improve treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Pathology
Background:
- Human pathology is characterized by genetic diversity (polymorphism), unlike inbred animal models.
- Pre-clinical models often fail in clinical settings due to their inability to capture disease heterogeneity.
- Inter-individual differences, particularly immune polymorphism, complicate the study of complex biological systems like the cytokine network.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emerging evidence on the role of immune polymorphism in human pathology.
- To highlight the clinical relevance of immune polymorphism.
- To propose a shift towards a holistic approach in studying human diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on genetic polymorphism and immune system genes.
- Analysis of the impact of inter-individual genetic variation on disease complexity.
- Discussion of immunogenetic profiling as a potential research strategy.
Main Results:
- Polymorphism is widespread among immune system genes, potentially an evolutionary adaptation.
- Immune polymorphism contributes significantly to the heterogeneity of human diseases.
- Understanding immune polymorphism is crucial for deciphering complex pathologies.
Conclusions:
- Immune polymorphism is a key factor in human disease variability.
- A broader perspective, including immunogenetic profiling, is needed to study human pathology effectively.
- This approach may lead to more successful and personalized treatment strategies.