Genetics of bad drug reactions caused by our immune system

Our doctors prescribe drugs to help treat many conditions. Some of these might not be serious, like a cough or a sprained ankle. But sometimes, they can be life-threatening, like certain infections or cancer. In some cases, our defense, or immune system, can get in the way. Our immune system detects things that do not belong. This is often a virus, or bacteria. There are two ways our immune system can react. It can send out proteins to attack. There are also immune proteins on the surface of cells that can lead an attack. Sometimes, our immune system may think a drug does not belong. We call this a drug allergy. Allergies can be mild or severe. A mild reaction may be a rash or itching. These are easy to treat. But sometimes, allergies can be severe. They can even be life-threatening and cause long-term problems. We do not know who is at risk. We do not know how or when these attacks may happen. Research shows that changes in certain genes may play a part in these attacks.Scientists at Vanderbilt will use BioVU to try to learn more about these attacks caused by drugs. They will look for gene changes linked to immune system reactions. They will also look at the genes that make the immune proteins on the surface of our cells. They hope to learn more about why certain drugs cause the immune system to react in some people. Their results may help us figure out how the drug causes the immune attack. This could lead to better treatments and new ways to figure out who is at risk. The goal is to prevent these reactions in the future.