title: In vitro incubation with influenza virus primes human polymorphonuclear leukocyte generation of superoxide.
abstract: Viral respiratory illnesses exacerbate asthma, increase airway responsiveness, and enhance the frequency of late asthmatic reactions. A number of mechanisms have been identified to explain how respiratory viral illnesses provoke wheezing, including enhanced inflammatory activity of leukocytes. To further understand how respiratory virus-caused illnesses promote leukocyte-dependent airway injury, the following study evaluated the effect of an in vitro incubation of influenza A virus on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) generation of superoxide (O2-). PMNs were isolated from anticoagulated human blood following density gradient centrifugation; purified PMNs were then incubated (37 degrees C x 30 min) with influenza virus (PMN:virus ratio of 5:1 [egg-infective dose 50%] and 10:1) in the presence of 10% autologous serum. After incubation, the viable PMNs (greater than 95% exclusion of trypan blue) were activated, by the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP), calcium ionophore A23187, or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and O2- generation was then measured. Generation of O2- to fMLP and A23187 was significantly enhanced from PMNs that had been incubated with influenza virus. Although influenza virus itself did not generate O2-, it caused a transient increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), when measured with Indo-1-loaded cells. These results suggest that influenza virus primes PMNs to generate increased amounts of O2- and that the priming effect is associated with a transient increase in [Ca2+]. Consequently, we postulate that influenza virus priming produces PMNs of enhanced inflammatory potential to cause greater airway injury, obstruction, and responsiveness during a viral respiratory infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Vrtis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Dick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D000001:Calcimycin; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium