Rhinovirus infection induces cytotoxicity and delays wound healing in bronchial epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Human rhinoviruses (RV), the most common triggers of acute asthma exacerbations, are considered not cytotoxic to the bronchial epithelium. Recent observations, however, have questioned this knowledge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of RV to induce epithelial cytotoxicity and affect epithelial repair in-vitro.


METHODS
Monolayers of BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells, seeded at different densities were exposed to RV serotypes 1b, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16. Cytotoxicity was assessed chromatometrically. Epithelial monolayers were mechanically wounded, exposed or not to RV and the repopulation of the damaged area was assessed by image analysis. Finally epithelial cell proliferation was assessed by quantitation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
RV1b, RV5, RV7, RV14 and RV16 were able to induce considerable epithelial cytotoxicity, more pronounced in less dense cultures, in a cell-density and dose-dependent manner. RV9 was not cytotoxic. Furthermore, RV infection diminished the self-repair capacity of bronchial epithelial cells and reduced cell proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
RV-induced epithelial cytotoxicity may become considerable in already compromised epithelium, such as in the case of asthma. The RV-induced impairment on epithelial proliferation and self-repair capacity may contribute to the development of airway remodeling.
Bossios
Apostolos
A
Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. apostolos.bossios@lungall.gu.se
Psarras
Stelios
S
Gourgiotis
Dimitrios
D
Skevaki
Chrysanthi L
CL
Constantopoulos
Andreas G
AG
Saxoni-Papageorgiou
Photini
P
Papadopoulos
Nikolaos G
NG
D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology*
D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1