title: The effect of influenza virus A on th1/th2 balance and alveolar fluid clearance in pregnant rats.
abstract: ABSTRACT Pregnant women are more prone to H1N1 infection and often with severe complications. The authors studied the influence of H1N1 infection on T-helper cell type 1/type 2 (Th1/Th2) balance and alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in pregnant rats. The pregnant rats were infected intranasally with influenza virus. Peripheral blood interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and AFC was estimated by albumin concentration in alveolar lavage. The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in nonpregnant rats was 21 ± 7. There was significant increase in both cytokines in infected pregnant rats compared with noninfected counterparts, with dramatic reduction in IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (8 ± 3) compared to that (15 ± 8) in normal pregnant group. AFC of normal nonpregnant rats was 17% ± 3% and H1N1 infection reduced it to 11% ± 2%. AFC of normal pregnant rats was 22% ± 2% and H1N1 infection reduced it to 10% ± 2%. Dexamethasone reversed AFC in both nonpregnant and pregnant groups (14% ± 4% and 13% ± 2%, respectively). These results show that influenza virus A infection leads to Th2-biased immunity and reduces AFC in normal rats, and further worsens these in pregnant rats. Dexamethasone reverses these effects in both pregnant and nonpregnant rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. guxiu2006@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Naijing
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shengqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000821:virology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma