TY - JOUR AU - Uiprasertkul, Mongkol AU - Kitphati, Rungrueng AU - Puthavathana, Pilaipan AU - Kriwong, Romchat AU - Kongchanagul, Alita AU - Ungchusak, Kumnuan AU - Angkasekwinai, Suwimon AU - Chokephaibulkit, Kulkanya AU - Srisook, Kanittar AU - Vanprapar, Nirun AU - Auewarakul, Prasert T1 - Apoptosis and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Humans T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2007 VL - 13 IS - 5 SP - 708 SN - 1080-6059 AB - The pathogenesis of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in humans has not been clearly elucidated. Apoptosis may also play an important role. We studied autopsy specimens from 2 patients who died of infection with this virus. Apoptosis was observed in alveolar epithelial cells, which is the major target cell type for the viral replication. Numerous apoptotic leukocytes were observed in the lung of a patient who died on day 6 of illness. Our data suggest that apoptosis may play a major role in the pathogenesis of influenza (H5N1) virus in humans by destroying alveolar epithelial cells. This pathogenesis causes pneumonia and destroys leukocytes, leading to leukopenia, which is a prominent clinical feature of influenza (H5N1) virus in humans. Whether observed apoptotic cells were a direct result of the viral replication or a consequence of an overactivation of the immune system requires further studies. KW - Avian influenza A virus H5N1 KW - autopsy KW - apoptosis KW - pathogenesis KW - lymphopenia KW - lung KW - spleen KW - intestine KW - tumor necrosis factor-α KW - research KW - Thailand DO - 10.3201/eid1305.060572 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/13/5/06-0572_article ER - End of Reference