title: The effect of IL-12 treatment on vaccine-enhanced illness during infection with respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: In humans and mice, sensitisation to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigens can result in severe inflammatory lung disease during subsequent infection with the virus. Although specific antiviral T cells are thought to be responsible for this augmentation of disease, the precise role of different functional subsets is unknown. BALB/c mice sensitised to the major surface glycoprotein (G) of RSV expressed by recombinant vaccinia virus develop Th2-driven lung eosinophilia after intranasal challenge with the virus. Mice treated with IL-12 at various times during vaccination and challenge, had reduced vaccine-induced lung eosinophilia but increased total pulmonary lymphoid cell infiltration. Intracellular cytokine analysis showed that interferon-gamma production during challenge was increased and IL-4 and IL-5 reduced by IL-12 treatment. Though IL-12 treatment reduced lung eosinophilia, illness (as assessed by weight loss) was not eliminated and sometimes increased. Reversing Th2-associated pathology with IL-12 does not necessarily benefit the host.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Openshaw
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hussell
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015707:HN Protein; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015707:HN Protein; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C116204:attachment protein G; D018664:Interleukin-12