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Interleukin-15 is associated with disease severity in viral bronchiolitis

T Ronan Leahy1, Ross McManus2, Derek G Doherty3

  • 1Dept of Paediatrics, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Dept of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland ronan.leahy@olchc.ie.

The European Respiratory Journal
|November 7, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) levels may predict viral bronchiolitis severity in infants. Higher IL-15 mRNA in moderate cases and reduced natural killer (NK) cells suggest its role in disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Viral bronchiolitis severity in infants is unpredictable.
  • Host innate immunity is implicated in disease severity.
  • Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a key innate cytokine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate interleukin-15 (IL-15) as a potential marker for viral bronchiolitis disease severity.
  • To compare IL-15 parameters in hospitalized infants with varying disease severity and healthy controls.
  • To analyze the role of natural killer (NK) cells and their microRNA (miRNA) in bronchiolitis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study comparing infants with viral bronchiolitis (moderate and severe) and healthy controls.
  • Analysis of IL-15 mRNA expression and serum IL-15 levels.
  • PCR and miRNA sequencing of natural killer (NK) cells.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) IL-15 mRNA expression was higher in moderate bronchiolitis cases compared to controls and severe cases.
  • Serum IL-15 levels showed a correlation with disease severity.
  • Reduced NK cell frequency and distinct NK cell miRNA transcriptome observed in bronchiolitis patients, with differential expression of IL-15 pathway targets.

Conclusions:

  • Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is associated with disease severity in infants hospitalized with viral bronchiolitis.
  • IL-15 may serve as a predictive biomarker for bronchiolitis severity.
  • Alterations in NK cells and their miRNA profile are linked to viral bronchiolitis.

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