title: Bronchoalveolar interferon-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and inflammation during acute influenza in pigs: a possible model for humans?
abstract: Biologically active interferon-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of 3-week-old cesarian-derived colostrum-deprived pigs inoculated with H1N1 influenza virus. Cytokine titers and lung virus titers were significantly higher 18-24 h after inoculation than at 48-72 h after inoculation in all 4 litters of pigs examined. All three cytokines were positively correlated with a 3- to 4-fold increase in BAL cell numbers (P < .036) and with a drastic neutrophil infiltration (24%-77% of BAL cells vs. 0-1.5% in controls) (P < .001). In addition, cytokine production coincided with the onset of general and respiratory symptoms of influenza and with the development of a necrotizing bronchopneumonia. This study is the first demonstration of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in BAL fluids of a natural influenza virus host. It documents that pigs may be a highly valuable experimental model in human influenza virus pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium. kristien.vanreeth@rug.ac.be
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Reeth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nauwynck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pensaert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha