The complex relationship between respiratory syncytial virus and allergy in lung disease.
Epidemiologic studies suggest a strong link between severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced bronchiolitis in infancy and allergic disease; however, the mechanisms determining this relationship are currently unknown. In this review article, we summarize data from human clinical studies that explore the association between RSV infection and allergy, some that suggest that RSV bronchiolitis requiring hospitalization leads to an increased incidence of the allergic phenotype and others that suggest that pre-existing allergy is a risk factor for severe RSV bronchiolitis. We also review the published murine models that combine RSV infection and allergic sensitization that attempt to explain the complex relationship between these two factors in regard to lung immunopathology and physiologic dysfunction.
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. stokes.peebles@vanderbilt.edu
R Stokes
RS
Peebles
Koichi
K
Hashimoto
Barney S
BS
Graham
D000818:Animals; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology