GENOMICS OF INFLAMMATION & CYTOKINE STORMS

“𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔 𝕧𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕚𝕞𝕞𝕦𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤; 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕞𝕞𝕦𝕟𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕥 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕪𝕥𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞.” – Francis S. Collins

🧬 Genomics has reshaped our understanding of inflammation and immune dysregulation. One of the most critical manifestations is the cytokine storm; a runaway immune response marked by excessive cytokine release, driving severe tissue damage in infections and autoimmune disorders.

         🔹 Genetic predisposition matters. SNPs in cytokine genes (e.g., TNF, IL-6) influence individual susceptibility. Variants in TNF are linked to rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s, while IL-6 polymorphisms affect chronic inflammation risk. These insights highlight why immune responses vary so widely across individuals.

          🔹 Molecular pathways amplify the storm. Dysregulation of NF-κB signaling and related networks, often shaped by genomic or epigenetic changes, escalates cytokine output. COVID-19 showed this vividly, where hyper-inflammatory cascades involving IL-1, IL-6, and IFN-γ drove severe outcomes.

          🔹 Therapeutic implications are profound. Genomic insights underpin biologics like IL-6 blockers (tocilizumab) and TNF inhibitors, transforming patient outcomes. Beyond treatment, genomics enables risk stratification: identifying at-risk individuals before storms occur. Epigenetic modulation adds another frontier; re-orienting inflammatory “switches”.

          ➡️ Decoding the genomics of inflammation is the key to transforming cytokine storms from unpredictable threats into preventable outcomes.

⚠️ ln an Oystershell, the genomics of inflammation is not just academic; it’s a roadmap for precision medicine. By decoding genetic and molecular drivers, we move closer to therapies that prevent, rather than just manage, cytokine storms. In a world facing emerging infections and rising autoimmunity, this knowledge is a healthcare necessity.

Abubakar Abubakar ✍🏻 

• Ahola-Olli, Ari V. et al.

The American Journal of Human Genetics, Volume 100, Issue 1, Page 40 - 50

• Donyavi, T., Bokharaei-Salim, F., Baghi, H. B., et al. (2022). Gene Reports, 27, 101561.

• Hariharan, A., Hakeem, A. R., Radhakrishnan, S., Reddy, M. S., & Rela, M. (2021). Clinical Immunology, 226, 108718.

• Al-Khafaji, Z. M., Al-Naqshbandi, A. A. Y., & Al-Khafaji, A. S. (2022). Human Immunology, 83(9), 671–677.

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