Increased pathogenesis and inflammation of airways from respiratory syncytial virus infection in T cell deficient nude mice.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is ubiquitous and leads to various outcomes between immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to compare RSV infection and inflammatory responses between immunocompetent BALB/c mice and immunodeficient nude mice. RSV titers in both infected BALB/c mice and nude mice peaked on the third day post-inoculation, but the nude mice had longer lasting and higher levels of viral replication. RSV infection induced a more severe grade of pulmonary histopathology and larger numbers of leukocytes in airways of nude mice than that of BALB/c mice. RSV infection increased pulmonary macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells in both strains of mice. Furthermore, infected nude mice had larger numbers of pulmonary macrophages and NK cells than infected BALB/c mice. Whereas the RSV infected BALB/c mice secreted more tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-12 (IL-12), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-10 than control BALB/c mice, the infected nude mice had higher levels of TNF-alpha, IL-12 and IL-10 than the infected BALB/c mice. The inflammation induced by RSV infection did not correspond with the immune response of T cells. Macrophages and NK cells were potent immunocytes and inflammatory cells in RSV infection especially when T lymphocytes were deficient. Therefore, nude mice may be a good model for severe and persistent RSV infection in immunocompromised hosts.
Department of Immunology, Chongqing Children's hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, 136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuzhong District, 400014, Chongqing, China.
Juan
J
Zhou
Xi-Qiang
XQ
Yang
Zhou
Z
Fu
Xiao-Dong
XD
Zhao
Li-Ping
LP
Jiang
Li-Jia
LJ
Wang
Yu-Xia
YX
Cui
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma