Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Interleukin-4 polymorphism is associated with severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection
Mingzhi Zhang1, Yong Lu1, Xiaobo Zhang1
1Pulmonology Department, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene polymorphisms, specifically -590C/T and -33C/T, are linked to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection susceptibility and severity in Chinese children. These genetic variations influence how likely children are to contract RSV and how severe their illness becomes.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Immunology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant pediatric respiratory pathogen.
- Interleukin-4 (IL-4) plays a crucial role in immune responses.
- Genetic variations in IL-4 may influence susceptibility and severity of RSV infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between IL-4 gene polymorphisms (-590C/T and -33 C/T) and RSV infection susceptibility in Chinese Han children.
- To determine if these IL-4 polymorphisms correlate with the severity of RSV bronchiolitis.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 218 children with RSV bronchiolitis and 303 healthy controls.
- Genotyping of IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
- Assessment of RSV bronchiolitis severity using a standardized respiratory scoring system.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in the frequencies of IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T polymorphisms were observed between RSV patients and controls.
- The T-T haplotype (-590 and -33) showed a significant difference in frequency between groups.
- Patients with IL-4 -590TT and -33TT genotypes exhibited higher respiratory scores, indicating increased infection severity.
Conclusions:
- IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T polymorphisms are associated with both susceptibility to and severity of RSV infection in Chinese Han children.
- These genetic markers may serve as potential indicators for RSV risk and disease progression.
Aim:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major health problem in young children. This study aimed to investigate whether the interleukin (IL)-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to RSV infection in Chinese Han children and with the severity of the infection.
Methods:
The IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T SNPs were evaluated in 218 inpatients with RSV bronchiolitis and 303 healthy controls. The severity of RSV bronchiolitis was evaluated using a respiratory scoring system.
Results:
The frequencies of IL-4 -590 CC, CT and TT in the 218 RSV bronchiolitis patients versus the 303 controls were 1.4% versus 1.7%, 21.1% versus 34% and 77.5% versus 64.4%, respectively. The frequencies of IL-4 -33 CC, CT and TT were 1.4%, 20.6% and 78%, respectively, in RSV bronchiolitis patients and 2.3%, 35.6% and 62%, respectively, in the controls. The frequencies of the IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T polymorphisms were significantly different between the two groups. There was a significant difference in the frequency of the T-T haplotype formed by -590C/T and -33C/T between the two groups. The respiratory score of the RSV bronchiolitis cases with -590TT was 3.02 ± 0.44, which was significantly higher than those with -590CT (2.80 ± 0.44). The score for patients with -33TT was 3.03 ± 0.43, which was significantly higher than the score of 2.78 ± 0.46 for patients with -33CT.
Conclusions:
In Chinese Han children, the IL-4 -590C/T and -33 C/T polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to RSV and the severity of the infection.
More Related Videos
05:31Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
11:54Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase