Rhinovirus-specific antibody responses in preschool children with acute wheeze reflect severity of respiratory symptoms
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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
K Stenberg-Hammar1,2, K Niespodziana3, C Söderhäll2,4
1Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Rhinovirus (RV) antibody responses in children were linked to more respiratory symptoms. This study investigated RV species-specific antibody reactions in relation to symptom duration and viral strains during wheezing episodes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Wheezing in children with rhinovirus (RV) infections is common, but the causes (viral virulence vs. host immunity) remain unclear.
- Investigating RV species-specific antibody responses can elucidate the relationship between host immunity and respiratory symptom duration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine RV species-specific antibody responses in preschool children.
- To correlate these responses with respiratory symptom duration and detected RV species during acute wheezing.
Main Methods:
- Collected nasopharyngeal swabs and blood from 120 preschool children during acute wheezing and follow-up visits.
- Utilized nested PCR to identify RV strains and ELISA to measure serum IgG1 levels against RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C VP1 proteins.
Main Results:
- Rhinovirus was detected in 74% of children, with RV-C being the most prevalent subtype.
- Increased RV-specific IgG1 responses were observed in 61% of children, predominantly against RV-A.
- Higher IgG1 responses against RV-A or RV-A and RV-C were significantly associated with increased respiratory symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Antibody responses to RV VP1 proteins correlate with longer durations of respiratory symptoms in preschool children.
- This suggests a role for host immune response, specifically antibody production, in the severity and duration of RV-associated respiratory illness.
Background:
Some children with rhinovirus (RV) infections wheeze, but it is unknown whether this is due to more virulent strains of virus or differences in host immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the RV species-specific antibody responses measured at a follow-up visit in preschool children in relation to reported time with respiratory symptoms and the presence of different RV species during an acute episode of wheeze.
Method:
Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples were taken among 120 preschool children (<4 years of age) at an acute episode of wheeze and at a follow-up visit (median 11 weeks later). Nested PCR was used to detect different RV strains, and serum levels of IgG1 against purified recombinant VP1 proteins from representatives of the three RV species (RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C) were measured by ELISA.
Results:
Rhinovirus was detected in 74% (n = 80/108) of the children at the acute visit, and RV-C was the most common subtype (n = 59/80, 74%). An increase in RV-specific IgG1 was seen in 61% (n = 73) of the children at follow-up, most frequently against RV-A (n = 61/73, 86%) irrespective of the RV strains detected by PCR. Increases in RV-specific IgG1 against RV-A or against RV-A and RV-C were significantly associated with more respiratory symptoms (p = 0.03, p = 0.007).
Conclusion:
Antibody response to recombinant RV VP1 proteins was associated with longer time with respiratory symptoms.
