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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
Cytokine responses in primary and secondary respiratory syncytial virus infections
Kelechi Ugonna1, Konstantinos Douros2, Colin D Bingle3
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Insights
Secondary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children show lower IL-8 and IL-6 levels compared to primary infections. This suggests a distinct cytokine response in repeat RSV cases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections typically involve high Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and neutrophilia.
- Cytokine responses during secondary RSV infections are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare cytokine profiles in primary versus secondary RSV infections in children.
- To understand the immune response differences in recurrent RSV infections.
Main Methods:
- Recruited preschool children with secondary RSV infections and infants with acute bronchiolitis (RSV positive/negative) and controls.
- Collected nasal secretions and measured levels of IL-17A, IL-8, IL-6, IL-21, and TNF-α using cytokine bead array.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower levels of IL-8 and IL-6 were observed in secondary RSV infections compared to primary RSV infections.
- No significant differences in IL-17A, IL-21, or TNF-α levels were found between primary and secondary RSV infections.
Conclusions:
- Secondary RSV infections exhibit a blunted IL-8 and IL-6 response compared to primary infections.
- This reduced cytokine response in secondary RSV infections is not due to a general decrease in cytokine production.
Background:
Primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are characterized by high levels of IL-8 and an intense neutrophilia. Little is known about the cytokine responses in secondary infections. Preschool children experiencing RSV secondary infections were recruited from the siblings of infants admitted to hospital with RSV acute bronchiolitis.
Methods:
Fifty-one infants with acute bronchiolitis (39 RSV positive, 12 RSV negative) and 20 age-matched control infants were recruited. In addition, seven older siblings of infants from the RSV-positive cohort and confirmed RSV infection were recruited. Samples of nasal secretions were obtained using a flocked swab, and secretions extracted using centrifugation. Cytokine bead array was used to obtain levels of interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-8, IL-6, IL-21, and tumor necrosis factor-α.
Results:
Levels of IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly lower in the RSV-positive siblings compared with the RSV-positive infants. There were no significant differences between levels of the other cytokines in the primary and secondary infections.
Conclusion:
The very high levels of IL-8 and IL-6 response characteristic of the primary RSV infection was not observed in secondary RSV-positive infections and this did not appear to be due to a global reduction in cytokine production.
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