Diminished Susceptibility of African-Americans to Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Disease

Authors

Jerome M. Reich, Earle A. Chiles Research InstituteFollow
Jong S. Kim, Portland State UniversityFollow

Published In

Lung

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

11-13-2017

Abstract

The incidence of three granulomatous response diseases—sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease—differ markedly in African–Americans versus Caucasians. In reviewing a large compendium of non-cystic-fibrosis bronchiectasis, we noted that complicating infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria was relatively infrequent among individuals of African–American descent, confirming previous observations of their inherent resistance. Disease-specific variance among African–Americans in the efficacy of their granulomatous response suggests a nexus, a mediating, immunological mechanism. Environmentally conditioned selection of SLC11A1 (Nramp1) alleles may account for this ethnic variance.

Locate the Document

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00408-017-0070-x

DOI

10.1007/s00408-017-0070-x

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/25869

Citation Details

Reich, J. M., & Kim, J. S. (2017). Diminished Susceptibility of African–Americans to Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Disease. Lung, 1-3.