Effects of respiratory syncytial virus infection on dendritic cells and cysteinyl leukotrienes in lung tissues of a murine model of asthma.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary dendritic cells (DCs) play critical roles in both allergy and in viral infection. Levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) increase after allergen sensitization and viral infection and can modulate the migration and functions of DCs. The present study examines the effects of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on numbers of DCs and cysLT concentrations in lung tissues of mice sensitized with mite allergen.


METHODS
We examined Control, Dermatophagoides farinae allergen sensitized (Df), RSV infected (RSV) and Df allergen sensitized and RSV infected (Df-RSV) Balb/c mice. We then determined the number of CD11c-positive DCs and the LT concentration in lung tissues of the mice and examined lung pathology and cytokine profiles in thoracic lymph nodes.


RESULTS
Infection with RSV significantly enhanced allergic airway inflammation in Df mice with concomitant increases in Th1 and Th2 immunity. The number of DCs and the cysLT concentrations were significantly increased in the lungs of Df and RSV mice and more so in Df-RSV, than in Df mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that RSV infection increases the number of DCs and the cysLT concentrations in lung tissues of asthma patients, both of which could result in enhanced allergic airway inflammation.
Matsuse
Hiroto
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan. hmatsuse@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Hirose
Hiroko
H
Tsuchida
Tomoko
T
Fukahori
Susumu
S
Fukushima
Chizu
C
Mizuta
Yohei
Y
Kohno
Shigeru
S
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
D039521:CD11c Antigen; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015289:Leukotrienes; C112381:cysteinyl-leukotriene; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003545:Cysteine