title: Interleukin-11: stimulation in vivo and in vitro by respiratory viruses and induction of airways hyperresponsiveness.
abstract: To address the role of IL-11 in viral airways dysfunction, we determined whether infectious agents that exacerbate asthma stimulate stromal cell IL-11 production, determined whether IL-11 could be detected at sites of viral infection and evaluated the effects of IL-11 on airway physiology. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), and rhinovirus (RV) 14 were potent stimulators while cytomegalovirus and adenovirus only weakly stimulated and herpes simplex virus type 2 and bacteria did not stimulate IL-11 elaboration. IL-11 was not detected or barely detected in nasal aspirates from children without, but was detected in aspirates from children with viral upper respiratory tract infections. The levels of IL-11 were highest in patients with clinically detectable wheezing. IL-11 also caused nonspecific airways hyperresponsiveness in BALB/c mice. These studies demonstrate that three major causes of viral-induced asthma, RSV, RV, and PIV, in contrast to other viruses and bacteria, share the ability to induce stromal cell IL-11 production. They also demonstrate that IL-11 can be detected in vivo during viral respiratory infections, that the presence of IL-11 correlates with clinical bronchospasm and that IL-11 is a potent inducer of airways hyperresponsiveness. IL-11 may be an important mediator in viral airways disorders.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Einarsson
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Geba
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D010224:Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D017370:Interleukin-11; D012333:RNA, Messenger