Research Progress in the Roles of Influenza A H1N1 Virus and Its Vaccine in the Pathogenesis of Narcolepsy Type 1

Wenting DING, Jingyao GAO, Zeliang GUO, Linghui LI, Rongzeng LIU

Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6) : 997-1005.

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Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6) : 997-1005. DOI: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16463
Review Articles

Research Progress in the Roles of Influenza A H1N1 Virus and Its Vaccine in the Pathogenesis of Narcolepsy Type 1

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Abstract

Narcolepsy type 1(NT1) is a chronic sleep disorder caused by the specific depletion of hypocretin(HCRT) neurons.The pathogenesis of NT1 involves human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-related genes(most NT1 patients carry the HLA-DQB1*06∶02 allele) and environmental factors.In Europe,there was a notable increase in NT1 cases among children and adolescents following the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and 2010,particularly associated with the Pandemrix vaccination.Similarly,in China,the surge in NT1 incidence has been linked to H1N1 virus infections.It has been postulated that H1N1 virus infection may be a predisposing factor for NT1 development.In susceptible individuals,the confluence of the immune response triggered by the Pandemrix vaccine and the H1N1 virus infection could instigate autoimmunity against HCRT,leading to the loss of HCRT neurons mediated by T cells.This paper examines the involvement of influenza A H1N1 virus and its vaccines in the pathogenesis of NT1.

Key words

narcolepsy / influenza A H1N1 virus / Pandemrix vaccine / autoimmunity / molecular mimicry

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Wenting DING , Jingyao GAO , Zeliang GUO , et al . Research Progress in the Roles of Influenza A H1N1 Virus and Its Vaccine in the Pathogenesis of Narcolepsy Type 1[J]. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae. 2025, 47(6): 997-1005 https://doi.org/10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16463

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