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Updated: Mar 18, 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
Effects of serostatus and gender on the HRV-16-induced local immune response
Rebecca M Koch1, Matthijs Kox1, Peter Pickkers1
1Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The "experimental cold model" is widely used to investigate effects of HRV infection. However, effects of serostatus and gender on the HRV-induced immune response have not been clarified. 40 healthy seropositive and seronegative (1:1) male and female (1:1) subjects were inoculated with HRV-16. HRV infection increased viral load in nasal wash, which tended to be more pronounced in seronegative subjects. Furthermore, HRV infection increased levels of IP-10, IL-6, and IL-10 and leukocyte numbers in nasal wash of seronegative, but not of seropositive subjects. No differences in any of the parameters were found between both sexes. The HRV-induced local immune response is diminished in seropositive subjects compared with seronegative subjects, while gender does not influence this response. These results have important implications for the design of future experimental cold studies: seronegative subjects, from both sexes can be included.
The "experimental cold model" is widely used to investigate effects of HRV infection. However, effects of serostatus and gender on the HRV-induced immune response have not been clarified. 40 healthy seropositive and seronegative (1:1) male and female (1:1) subjects were inoculated with HRV-16. HRV infection increased viral load in nasal wash, which tended to be more pronounced in seronegative subjects. Furthermore, HRV infection increased levels of IP-10, IL-6, and IL-10 and leukocyte numbers in nasal wash of seronegative, but not of seropositive subjects. No differences in any of the parameters were found between both sexes. The HRV-induced local immune response is diminished in seropositive subjects compared with seronegative subjects, while gender does not influence this response. These results have important implications for the design of future experimental cold studies: seronegative subjects, from both sexes can be included.
