Immunology Hepatitis A virus link to atopic disease

Atopic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, are caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Here we show that infection by hepatitis A virus (HAV) may protect individuals from atopy if they carry a particular variant of the gene that encodes TIM-1 (also known as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature 2003-10, Vol.425 (6958), p.576-576
Main Authors: Umetsu, Dale T, McIntire, Jennifer J, Umetsu, Sarah E, Macaubas, Claudia, Hoyte, Elizabeth G, Cinnioglu, Cengiz, Cavalli-Sforza, Luigi L, Barsh, Gregory S, Hallmayer, Joachim F, Underhill, Peter A, Risch, Neil J, Freeman, Gordon J, DeKruyff, Rosemarie H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Hepatitis A virus - immunology
Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1
Humans
Hypersensitivity - genetics
Hypersensitivity - immunology
Hypersensitivity - virology
Immunogenetics
Membrane Glycoproteins
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Mice
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Receptors, Virus
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Summary:Atopic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, are caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Here we show that infection by hepatitis A virus (HAV) may protect individuals from atopy if they carry a particular variant of the gene that encodes TIM-1 (also known as HAVcr-1) - the cell-surface receptor used by HAV to infect human cells. Exposure to HAV is associated with poor hygiene, large family size and attendance at day-care centres, all factors that are also inversely associated with atopy. Our discovery indicates that interaction between HAV and TIM-1 genotype may contribute to the aetiology of atopic diseases, and provides a mechanism to account for the hygiene hypothesis.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/425576a