A systems immunology approach to investigate cytokine responses to viruses and bacteria and their association with disease

Lin L, Curtin JA, Regis E, Hirsman A, Howard R, Tutino M, Edwards MR, Prosperi M, Simpson A, Rattray M, Custovic A, Johnston SL (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Scientific Reports Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option B

Book Volume: 12

Article Number: 13463

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16509-4

Abstract

Patterns of human immune responses to viruses and bacteria and how this impacts risk of infections or onset/exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases are poorly understood. In a population-based birth cohort, we measured peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses (28 cytokines) to respiratory viruses and bacteria, Toll-like receptor ligands and phytohemagglutinin, in 307 children. Cytokine responses were highly variable with > 1000-fold differences between children. Machine learning revealed clear distinction between virus-associated and bacteria-associated stimuli. Cytokines clustered into three functional groups (anti-viral, pro-inflammatory and T-cell derived). To investigate mechanisms potentially explaining such variable responses, we investigated cytokine Quantitative Trait Loci (cQTLs) of IL-6 responses to bacteria and identified nine (eight novel) loci. Our integrative approach describing stimuli, cytokines and children as variables revealed robust immunologically and microbiologically plausible clustering, providing a framework for a greater understanding of host-responses to infection, including novel genetic associations with respiratory disease.

Involved external institutions

University of Manchester GB United Kingdom (GB) Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Florida US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Lin, L., Curtin, J.A., Regis, E., Hirsman, A., Howard, R., Tutino, M.,... Johnston, S.L. (2022). A systems immunology approach to investigate cytokine responses to viruses and bacteria and their association with disease. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16509-4

MLA:

Lin, Lijing, et al. "A systems immunology approach to investigate cytokine responses to viruses and bacteria and their association with disease." Scientific Reports 12.1 (2022).

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