Synergistically upregulated interleukin-10 production in cocultures of monocytes and T cells after stimulation with respiratory syncytial virus.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is known as a causal factor of severe bronchiolitis in young children. It has also been detected in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that is associated with an increased number of T cells in the bronchial mucosa. Here, we investigated the potential direct interaction between RSV and T cells and its impact on cytokine response.


METHODS
Purified human peripheral blood T cells were stimulated with RSV in vitro and analyzed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Cytokine expression and release were measured in T cell cultures and in cocultures with peripheral blood monocytes as well as with alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA.


RESULTS
It was shown that RSV adhered to the surface of T cells. Stimulation of purified T cells with RSV led to a significant increase in interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA expression after 24 h. Moreover, in cocultures of T cells with monocytes or alveolar macrophages, IL-10 production was synergistically upregulated 24 h after stimulation with RSV.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that RSV can cause an excessive IL-10 response leading to downregulation of antiviral defense mechanisms and reduced elimination of respiratory pathogens when antigen-presenting cells and T cells are simultaneously present on the site of infection. This effect may possibly contribute to high frequencies of respiratory pathogens found in patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases associated with increased local T cell influx such as COPD.
Kauth
Marion
M
Department of Experimental Pneumology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. marion.kauth@rub.de
Grage-Griebenow
Evelin
E
Rohde
Gernot
G
Anhenn
Olaf
O
Wiethege
Almut
A
Schultze-Werninghaus
Gerhard
G
Bufe
Albrecht
A
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology
D016753:Interleukin-10