Infection with Rhinovirus Facilitates Allergen Penetration Across a Respiratory Epithelial Cell Layer

Rhinovirus infections are a major risk factor for asthma exacerbations. We sought to investigate in an in vitro system whether infection with human rhinovirus reduces the integrity and barrier function of a respiratory epithelial cell layer and thus may influence allergen penetration.

We cultured the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o- in a transwell culture system as a surrogate of respiratory epithelium. The cell monolayer was infected with human rhinovirus 14 at 2 different doses. The extent and effects of transepithelial allergen penetration were assessed using transepithelial resistance measurements and a panel of (125)I-labeled purified recombinant respiratory allergens (rBet v 1, rBet v 2, and rPhl p 5).

Infection of respiratory cell monolayers with human rhinovirus decreased transepithelial resistance and induced a pronounced increase in allergen penetration.

Our results indicate that infection with rhinovirus damages the respiratory epithelial barrier and allows allergens to penetrate more efficiently into the subepithelial tissues where they may cause increased allergic inflammation.