title: Respiratory syncytial virus triggers synthesis of IL-6 in BALB/c mouse alveolar macrophages in the absence of virus replication.
abstract: Cytokines produced by alveolar macrophages are likely involved in the regulation of the immune response arising from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Both infectious and UV-inactivated RSV were effective in inducing BALB/c mouse alveolar macrophages to synthesize increased levels of IL-6 mRNA and secreted IL-6 protein. No increase in IL-1beta (either mRNA or secreted protein) was observed. The augmented production of IL-6 was activated by purified virus and was reduced by pretreating virus with virus-neutralizing antiserum, demonstrating a requirement for virus in the enhanced IL-6 response. The results suggest that the exposure of BALB/c alveolar macrophages to small quantities of RSV (in the absence of detectable virus replication) is sufficient to trigger IL-6 production. The finding that UV-inactivated virus was effective in triggering IL-6 production by mouse alveolar macrophages is similar to that reported in human alveolar macrophages, providing further validation of the BALB/c mouse as a useful animal model for human RSV infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stadnyk
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Gillan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6