title: Mast cell-induced lung injury in mice infected with H5N1 influenza virus.
abstract: Although an important role for mast cells in several viral infections has been demonstrated, its role in the invasion of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that mast cells were activated significantly by H5N1 virus (A/chicken/Henan/1/2004) infection both in vivo and in vitro. Mast cells could possibly intensify the lung injury that results from H5N1 infection by releasing proinflammatory mediators, including histamine, tryptase, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Lung lesions and apoptosis induced by H5N1 infection were reduced dramatically by treatment with ketotifen, which is a mast cell degranulation inhibitor. A combination of ketotifen and the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir protected 100% of the mice from death postinfection. In conclusion, our data suggest that mast cells play a crucial role in the early stages of H5N1 influenza virus infection and provide a new approach to combat highly pathogenic influenza virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Yanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Deping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Guozhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shanping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xiaoxu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Lun-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C