[Effect of ribavirin upon secretion of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in respiratory syncytial virus-induced asthma exacerbation of mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of ribavirin (RIB) in treating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced asthma exacerbation of mice.


METHODS
(1) Cell experiment: 32 flasks of human airway epithelial cell 16HBEs were randomly divided into four groups: RSV group, RSV/RIB group, RIB group and control group. 16HBEs were infected with RSV at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2. RIB 50 microg/ml was added in culture medium and Western blot used to detect the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) protein; (2) Animal experiment: 32 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Ovalbumin (OVA) group, OVA/RSV group, OVA/RSV/RIB group and control group. Mice were sensitized by OVA and stimulated with nebulized OVA. RSV was inoculated into murine nasal cavity and RIB 10 mg/kg intramuscularly administered. BUXCO noninvasive murine lung function detection instrument was used to examine the airway response to metacholine; ELISA was used to detect IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in murine serum and TSLP in supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); murine lung specimens were stained with HE to observe inflammation and immunohistochemical technique was employed to observe the production of TSLP in murine airway epithelial cells.


RESULTS
The cell experiment demonstrated the productions of TSLP protein in RSV group, RSV/RIB group, RIB group and control group were 1.97 +/- 0.22, 1.16 +/- 0.19, 0.99 +/- 0.17 and 0.89 +/- 0.08 respectively, and the production of TSLP in RSV/RIB group was lower than that in RSV group (P < 0.01). The animal experiment demonstrated that the murine airway responsiveness in RSV/OVA/RIB group was lower than that in OVA/RSV group (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-4 [(109.7 +/- 41.9) pg/ml], IL-5 [(220.8 +/- 30.9) pg/ml], IFN-gamma [(13.0 +/- 3.4) pg/ml] in murine serum and TSLP [(1945 +/- 82) pg/ml] in BALF of RSV/OVA/RIB group were significantly lower than those in OVA/RSV group [(274.2 +/- 103.7), (293.3 +/- 46.1), (30.1 +/- 5.7) and (2127 +/- 46) pg/ml respectively, all P < 0.01]; less infiltration of airway inflammatory cells in OVA/RSV/RIB group was observed than that in OVA/RSV group. Immunohistochemical staining of TSLP also showed a lower production of TSLP in airway epithelial cells of OVA/RSV/RIB group than OVA/RSV group.


CONCLUSIONS
Ribavirin can inhibit the elevated production of TSLP after RSV infection and relieve RSV-induced asthma exacerbation in mice.
Xia
Hu
H
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Cai
Shao-xi
SX
Tong
Wan-cheng
WC
Luo
Li-min
LM
Yu
Hua-peng
HP
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D012254:Ribavirin; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin