Core Concepts
Inhibiting the cell death pathway of necroptosis can reduce the excessive inflammatory response and mortality in severe influenza infections.
Abstract
The article discusses the importance of understanding and addressing the next influenza pandemic, which has the potential to be highly lethal, especially for younger, seemingly healthy adults. The authors highlight a study by Gautam et al. that demonstrates how inhibiting a specific cell death pathway called necroptosis can mitigate the severe inflammatory response and reduce mortality in an animal model of severe influenza infection.
The key insights from the article are:
- Influenza pandemics have killed millions in the past and could do so again, with some strains proving particularly lethal to younger, healthy adults.
- This may be due to the strong inflammatory response provoked by the virus in this group.
- The study by Gautam et al. shows that inhibiting the cell death pathway of necroptosis can reduce the excessive inflammatory response and substantially lower mortality in an animal model of severe influenza infection.
- Targeting this cell death pathway could be a promising therapeutic approach to improve outcomes in severe influenza cases.
Stats
Influenza pandemics have killed millions in the past.
Some influenza strains have proved to be particularly lethal to younger, ostensibly healthy adults.
Quotes
"If there is one lesson to be learnt from the pandemic, it is that we need to be better prepared for the next one."
"Influenza pandemics have killed millions in the past and could do so again."