[Rhinovirus infection and expression of adhesion molecules in human tracheal epithelium]

Rhinovirus infection has attracted attention because it can lead to acute exacerbations of chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. We established a culture system and inoculated human rhinovirus to human tracheal epithelial cells, and found that infection was augmented by up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which is the receptor for this virus. We also found that human airway epithelial cells infected with rhinovirus were susceptible to a chemical oxidant (H2O2) released by inflammatory cells, which would contribute to acute exacerbations of inflammatory airway diseases. Finally, we found that anti-ICAM-1 antibodies or dexamethasone can inhibit the infectivity to rhinovirus by suppressing ICAM-1, and diminish susceptibility to oxidants in the cultured human tracheal epithelium.