Age-related difference in immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus infection in young children.
There have been longitudinal studies of the developmental change of the immune system during the first year of life. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is any age-related difference in cytokine responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection between the patients under 6 months of age and the patients over 12 months of age compared with age-matched controls. Forty-five children < or =24 months of age who were admitted with acute RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: the infants < or =6 months old and the young children > or =12 months old. Immune response to RSV infection was determined by measuring the serum concentrations of cytokines and compared with age-matched controls. Serum samples were obtained on admission and analyzed for interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukins (IL)-10, -13, and -4 using ELISA. Comparing the cytokine levels of two control groups, both IFN-gamma and IL-13 were lower in the children > or =12 months of age than in the infants < or =6 months of age. IL-10 and IL-4 showed no significant changes with age. Comparing with age-matched controls, IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in RSV group > or =12 months of age, but showed a tendency toward lower levels in RSV group < or =6 months of age. Both IL-10 and IL-13 levels were significantly higher in RSV group > or =12 months of age, but showed no significant difference in RSV group < or =6 months of age. Our study demonstrated a significant age-related difference in immune response to RSV infection during early life. It suggests that the developmental changes in cytokine responses to RSV infection may be considered in the control of RSV bronchiolitis in young children.
Chung
Hai Lee
HL
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Taegu, Taegu, Korea. hlchung@cu.ac.kr
Park
Hye Jin
HJ
Kim
So Yeon
SY
Kim
Sang Gyung
SG
D000367:Age Factors; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma