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Respiratory Virus-Specific Nasopharyngeal Lipidome Signatures and Severity in Infants With Bronchiolitis: A

Michihito Kyo1, Zhaozhong Zhu1, Ryohei Shibata1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|May 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The nasopharyngeal lipidome differentiates respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from rhinovirus (RV) bronchiolitis in infants. Specific lipids and fatty acids are linked to disease severity, impacting the need for positive pressure ventilation (PPV).

Area of Science:

  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infant bronchiolitis severity varies due to different respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV).
  • Lipids are key signaling molecules in airway inflammation, but their role in virus-specific bronchiolitis severity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the nasopharyngeal lipidome in infants hospitalized with RSV or RV bronchiolitis.
  • To identify discriminatory lipids between RSV and RV infections.
  • To determine the association of these lipids with bronchiolitis severity, defined by positive pressure ventilation (PPV) use.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter prospective study analyzed nasopharyngeal lipidome data from 800 infants hospitalized with RSV or RV bronchiolitis.
  • Lipid species and fatty acids were analyzed to find differences between RSV and RV infections.
  • Statistical models examined the association between discriminatory lipids and the need for PPV.

Main Results:

  • Thirty discriminatory nasopharyngeal lipid species and 8 fatty acids were identified between RSV and RV infections.
  • Eight lipid species, including phosphatidylcholine (18:2/18:2) and dihydroceramide (16:0), were significantly associated with PPV risk.
  • Six fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid, were also significantly associated with the risk of PPV use.

Conclusions:

  • The nasopharyngeal lipidome is crucial in the pathophysiology of virus-specific differences in infant bronchiolitis.
  • Specific lipid profiles are associated with disease severity and the requirement for respiratory support in infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
ceramideglycerophospholipid metabolismlipidsphosphatidylcholinesphingolipid metabolism

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