CXCL12 and CXCL13 as potential biomarkers for disease severity and recurrence in respiratory syncytial virus...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is a common childhood illness with significant morbidity.
• Understanding the host immune response, particularly chemokine expression, is crucial for predicting disease severity and long-term outcomes.
• Current diagnostic and prognostic tools for RSV bronchiolitis may benefit from novel biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate chemokine expression patterns in children with RSV bronchiolitis.
• To evaluate the clinical utility of specific chemokines as early warning indicators for disease severity.
• To assess the prognostic value of chemokines in predicting recurrent wheezing after RSV infection.

Main Methods:

• Blood leukocyte gene expression was analyzed using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) in children with RSV bronchiolitis and controls.
• Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses identified RSV-associated hub genes.
• Flow cytometry was used to confirm chemokine expression levels, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed biomarker utility.

Main Results:

• Twelve hub genes and 712 differentially expressed genes were identified in RSV patients.
• Elevated levels of CXCL2, CXCL12, CXCL13, CCL13, and CCL24 were observed in RSV patients compared to controls.
• CXCL12 levels correlated with moderate-to-severe RSV bronchiolitis (AUC=0.835), and CXCL13 levels were higher in children who later developed recurrent wheezing (AUC=0.851).

Conclusions:

• CXCL12 and CXCL13 demonstrate potential as reliable biomarkers for assessing RSV bronchiolitis severity.
• CXCL13 shows promise as a predictor of recurrent wheezing post-RSV infection.
• These chemokine biomarkers could enhance early clinical evaluation and improve prognostic accuracy for pediatric RSV cases.