Local host response in the lower respiratory tract in nephropathia epidemica.
Various lines of evidence suggest a respiratory route of transmission of nephropathia epidemica (NE). To study the response of the respiratory tract in NE, fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 5 patients in the acute phase of the disease. Compared to a reference group of 15 healthy individuals, BAL fluid of NE patients contained significantly higher total numbers of cells (p < 0.05) and significantly higher numbers of lysozyme-positive macrophages (p < 0.01), CD8+ T cells (p < 0.01), and natural killer (NK) cells (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in numbers of CD4+ T cells, B cells, or neutrophils. When blood samples of 16 patients were examined at various intervals after onset of NE, a significant decrease in the number of NK cells (p < 0.01) was found in the acute phase of the disease. The findings are compatible with the presence of a local host response in the lower respiratory tract to NE virus infection.
Linderholm
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
Bjermer
L
L
Juto
P
P
Roos
G
G
Sandström
T
T
Settergren
B
B
Tärnvik
A
A
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000276:immunology; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral