Respiratory syncytial virus, pneumonia virus of mice, and influenza A virus differently affect respiratory allergy in mice.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory viral infections in early childhood may interact with the immune system and modify allergen sensitization and/or allergic manifestations. In mice, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during allergic provocation aggravates the allergic T helper (Th) 2 immune response, characterized by the production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and inflammatory infiltrates. However, it is unclear whether the RSV-enhanced respiratory allergic response is a result of non-specific virus-induced damage of the lung, or virus-specific immune responses.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study we investigated whether RSV, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) and influenza A virus similarly affect the allergic response.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), and inoculated with virus during the challenge period. Pulmonary inflammation, lung cytokine mRNA responses, and IgE production in serum were assessed after the last OVA-challenge.


RESULTS
Like RSV, PVM enhanced the OVA-induced pulmonary IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 mRNA expression, which was associated with enhanced perivascular inflammation. In addition, PVM increased the influx of eosinophils in lung tissue. In contrast, influenza virus decreased the Th2 cytokine mRNA expression in the lungs. However, like PVM, influenza virus enhanced the pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration in OVA-allergic mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The Paramyxoviruses RSV and PVM both are able to enhance the allergic Th2 cytokine response and perivascular inflammation in BALB/c mice, while the Orthomyxovirus influenza A is not.
Laboratory of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
M
M
Barends
L G H
LG
de Rond
J
J
Dormans
M
M
van Oosten
A
A
Boelen
H J
HJ
Neijens
A D M E
AD
Osterhaus
T G
TG
Kimman
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D009980:Influenza A virus; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D029122:Murine pneumonia virus; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin; D018186:Pneumovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin