Advancing the Role of Neuroimmunity and Genetic Susceptibility in Gulf War Illness [2022]

Details

• Personal Author:
  O'Callaghan JP ; Sullivan K
• Description:
  Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder affecting as many as 30% of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. Over the past 30 years since the war ended, an increasing body of research has accumulated on the pathobiology of this disorder. Overall, most evidence is suggestive of in-theater neurotoxicant exposures as a major underlying cause of chronic health symptoms. As reflected in the titles of the two Special Issues, neuroimmune mechanisms are thought to be the primary targets of the neurotoxicant exposures that instigate the multiple symptoms modulated by underlying genetic susceptibility. Much has been learned about potential molecular targets of the disease, but a broad array of validated biomarkers of GWI are needed before the efficacy of treatments can be fully realized. Multiple animal models are now being utilized to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of GWI and evaluate potential therapeutics. The neuroimmune (i.e., brain-immune) mediators implicated in both animal studies and clinical assessments of ill veterans are suggestive of neuroinflammatory responses that likely underlie the symptoms of GW. Recent PET imaging of neuroinflammatory responses in ill GW veterans further affirms the likely neuroimmune basis of GWI, emphasizing the need to expand neuroimaging analyses of GW veterans. To that end, several of the papers in the two issues demonstrate novel approaches to human brain image analyses. The diverse imaging methodologies presented in these studies represent comprehensive approaches to achieving an in-depth understanding of brain structures/cell types affected in GWI, devising and implementing appropriate treatments. This includes using common data elements across the field. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Immune System Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Chemical Warfare Agents Genetic Factors Immune Reaction Military Personnel Molecular Biology Neurological Disorders
• ISSN:
  2076-3425
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  12
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066020
• Citation:
  Brain Sci 2022 Aug; 12(8):1068
• Contact Point Address:
  Kimberly Sullivan, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118
• Email:
  tty@bu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Brain Sciences
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:389a645eec998acfffb69bfee352ba732d8aa24b5647b4cec1ccb2999a2db839bb02e2e57c63419dc46a20b0b45ce3f1e32a6eb839391e01ee6c1ab3fd22fbe8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209105/cdc_209105_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 172.95 KB ]