RSV-infected airway epithelial cells cause biphasic up-regulation of CCR1 expression on human monocytes

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Respiratory Syncytial Viral Infection: Using Murine Models to Understand Human Pathology

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe pathology of the lower respiratory tract in infants, immunocompromised people, and elderly. Despite decades of research, there is no licensed vaccine against RSV, and many therapeutic drugs are still under development. Detailed understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms of the RSV infection pathology can accelerate the development of efficacious treatment. Current studies on the RSV pathogenesis are based on the analysis of biopsies from the infected patients; however deeper understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms of the RSV pathology could be achieved using animal models. Mice are the most often used model for RSV infection because they exhibit manifestations similar to those observed in humans (bronchial obstruction, mucous hypersecretion, and pulmonary inflammation mediated by lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils). Additionally, the use of mice is economically feasible, and many molecular tools are available for studying RSV infection pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels. This review summarizes new data on the pathogenesis of RSV infection obtained in mouse models, which demonstrated the role of T cells in both the antiviral defense and the development of lung immunopathology. T cells not only eliminate the infected cells, but also produce significant amounts of the proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IFNγ. Recently, a new subset of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) was identified that provide a strong antiviral defense without induction of lung immunopathology. These cells accumulate in the lungs after local rather than systemic administration of RSV antigens, which suggests new approaches to vaccination. The studies in mouse models have revealed a minor role of interferons in the anti-RSV protection, as RSV possesses mechanisms to escape the antiviral action of type I and III interferons, which may explain the low efficacy of interferon-containing drugs. Using knockout mice, a significant breakthrough has been achieved in understanding the role of many pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung immunopathology. It was found that in addition to TNFα and IFNγ, the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-33, and TSLP mediate the major manifestations of the RSV pathogenesis, such as bronchial obstruction, mucus hyperproduction, and lung infiltration by pro-inflammatory cells, while IL-6, IL-10, and IL-27 exhibit the anti-inflammatory effect. Despite significant differences between the mouse and human immune systems, mouse models have made a significant contribution to the understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms of the pathology of human RSV infection.

Airway Epithelial Derived Cytokines and Chemokines and Their Role in the Immune Response to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

The airway epithelium is the primary target of respiratory syncytial virus infection. It is an important component of the antiviral immune response. It contributes to the recruitment and activation of innate immune cells from the periphery through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. This paper provides a broad review of the cytokines and chemokines secreted from human airway epithelial cell models during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection based on a comprehensive literature review. Epithelium-derived chemokines constitute most inflammatory mediators secreted from the epithelium during RSV infection. This suggests chemo-attraction of peripheral immune cells, such as monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and natural killer cells as a key function of the epithelium. The reports of epithelium-derived cytokines are limited. Recent research has started to identify novel cytokines, the functions of which remain largely unknown in the wider context of the RSV immune response. It is argued that the correct choice of in vitro models used for investigations of epithelial immune functions during RSV infection could facilitate greater progress in this field.

Complete blood count data and leukocyte expression of cytokine genes and cytokine receptor genes associated with bovine respiratory disease in calves

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential relationships between cytokine gene expression, complete blood counts (CBC) and animals that were sick or would become sick. The CBC and the transcript abundance of cytokines and their receptors expressed in leukocytes were measured from calves at two early timepoints, and again after diagnosis with bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

RESULTS

Blood was collected from calves at pre-conditioning (n = 796) and weaning (n = 791) for CBC. Blood counts were also measured for the calves with BRD (n = 13), and asymptomatic calves (n = 75) after weaning. The CBC were compared for these animals at 3 time points. At diagnosis, neutrophils were higher and basophils lower in sick animals (P < 0.05). To further characterize BRD responses, transcript abundance of 84 cytokine genes were evaluated in 5 calves with BRD and 9 asymptomatic animals at all time points. There was more data for CBC than transcript abundance; hence, animal and temporary environmental correlations between CBC and transcript abundance were exploited to improve the power of the transcript abundance data. Expression of CCL16, CXCR1, CCR1 was increased in BRD positive animals compared to controls (P-corrected < 0.1). Cytokine expression data may help to provide insight into an animal's health.

Respiratory syncytial virus--a comprehensive review

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is amongst the most important pathogenic infections of childhood and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although there have been extensive studies of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic techniques, animal models and the immunobiology of infection, there is not yet a convincing and safe vaccine available. The major histopathologic characteristics of RSV infection are acute bronchiolitis, mucosal and submucosal edema, and luminal occlusion by cellular debris of sloughed epithelial cells mixed with macrophages, strands of fibrin, and some mucin. There is a single RSV serotype with two major antigenic subgroups, A and B. Strains of both subtypes often co-circulate, but usually one subtype predominates. In temperate climates, RSV infections reflect a distinct seasonality with onset in late fall or early winter. It is believed that most children will experience at least one RSV infection by the age of 2 years. There are several key animal models of RSV. These include a model in mice and, more importantly, a bovine model; the latter reflects distinct similarity to the human disease. Importantly, the prevalence of asthma is significantly higher amongst children who are hospitalized with RSV in infancy or early childhood. However, there have been only limited investigations of candidate genes that have the potential to explain this increase in susceptibility. An atopic predisposition appears to predispose to subsequent development of asthma and it is likely that subsequent development of asthma is secondary to the pathogenic inflammatory response involving cytokines, chemokines and their cognate receptors. Numerous approaches to the development of RSV vaccines are being evaluated, as are the use of newer antiviral agents to mitigate disease. There is also significant attention being placed on the potential impact of co-infection and defining the natural history of RSV. Clearly, more research is required to define the relationships between RSV bronchiolitis, other viral induced inflammatory responses, and asthma.

The Anti-Apoptotic Effect of Respiratory Syncytial Virus on Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophils is Mediated by a Monocyte Derived Soluble Factor

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes annual epidemics of respiratory disease particularly affecting infants. The associated airway inflammation is characterized by an intense neutrophilia. This neutrophilic inflammation appears to be responsible for much of the pathology and symptoms. Previous work from our group had shown that there are factors within the airways of infants with RSV bronchiolitis that inhibit neutrophil apoptosis. This study was undertaken to determine if RSV can directly affect neutrophil survival.

Neutrophils were isolated from citrated venous blood (collected from healthy adult volunteers) by discontinuous plasma: Percoll gradient centrifugation and, in some experiments, further purified by negative immunomagnetic bead selection. The effect of RSV on neutrophil survival was measured by Annexin V-PE /To-Pro-3 staining and by morphological changes, using Dif-Quick staining of cytospins.

Inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis was observed in neutrophils isolated by standard plasma:Percoll gradient when exposed to RSV but not in ultra pure neutrophil preparations. Adding monocytes back to ultra purified preparations restored the effect. The inhibition of apoptosis was observed with both active and UV inactivated virus. The effect is dependent on a soluble factor and appears to be dependent on CD14 receptors on the monocytes.

Th17 cytokines are critical for respiratory syncytial virus-associated airway hyperreponsiveness through regulation by complement C3a and tachykinins

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is associated with serious lung disease in infants and immunocompromised individuals and is linked to development of asthma. In mice, acute RSV infection causes airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and mucus hypersecretion. Infected cells induce complement activation, producing the anaphylatoxin C3a. In this paper, we show RSV-infected wild-type mice produce Th17 cytokines, a response not previously associated with viral infections. Mice deficient in the C3aR fail to develop AHR following acute RSV infection, and production of Th17 cytokines was significantly attenuated. Tachykinin production also has been implicated in RSV pathophysiology, and tachykinin receptor-null mice were similarly protected from developing AHR. These animals were also deficient in production of Th17 cytokines. Tachykinin release was absent in mice deficient in C3aR, whereas C3a levels were unchanged in tachykinin receptor-null animals. Thus, our data reveal a crucial sequence following acute RSV infection where initial C3a production causes tachykinin release, followed by activation of the IL-17A pathway. Deficiency of either receptor affords protection from AHR, identifying two potential therapeutic targets.

The role of cytokines and chemokines in severe respiratory syncytial virus infection and subsequent asthma

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the primary cause of serious lower respiratory tract illness in infants and young children worldwide. The mechanism is largely unknown. RSV stimulates airway epithelial cells and resident leukocytes to release cytokines. Cytokines and chemokines involved in host response to RSV infection are thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis. In addition, RSV infection early in life has been associated with the development of asthma in later childhood. It is likely that the persistence of cytokines and chemokines in fully recovered patients with RSV in the long term can provide a substratum for the development of subsequent asthma. This review describes the genetic factors in cytokines and chemokines associated with severity of RSV disease, cytokines and chemokines synthesis in RSV infection, and the role of these innate immune components in RSV-associated asthma.

Age-dependent differences in the pathogenesis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections related to the development of natural immunocompetence

The severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections appears to differ with age in both humans and bovines. A primary RSV infection in naïve infants and in young calves runs a more severe course when they are 1-6 months old than in their first month of life. The relative lack of clinical signs in the first month of age may be due to high levels of maternally derived neutralizing antibodies or low exposure to infectious virus. This study examined whether age-dependent differences in the pathogenesis of bovine RSV (bRSV) between neonatal and young calves may be due to differences in age-dependent immunocompetence. To study the effect of age and immune parameters on bRSV disease in neonatal and young calves, neonatal (1-day-old) calves without maternally derived antibodies were infected experimentally with bRSV and the severity of disease and immune responses were evaluated in comparison with disease in similar 6-week-old infected calves. Neonatal calves had more extensive virus replication and lung consolidation, but lower pro-inflammatory [in particular tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)] responses, specific humoral immune responses, lung neutrophilic infiltration and clinical signs of disease than 6-week-old calves. The lack of correlation between virus replication and clinical signs suggests an important role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in particular TNF-α, in the disease. The capacity to produce pro-inflammatory TNF-α appeared to increase with age, and may explain the age-dependent differences in RSV pathogenesis.

Investigations into the role of ST2 in acute asthma in children

The ST2 gene is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family and is located on chromosome 2q12, an area of the genome that has been associated with asthma. The soluble product of the ST2 gene, serum ST2 (sST2), has previously been shown to be elevated in adult asthmatic patients. This study investigated the potential role of ST2 in children with acute asthma. Children aged 2-16 years (n = 186) were recruited on presentation with acute asthma in the emergency department. Blood was obtained on presentation and during convalescence. Variables assessed included sST2 levels, a comprehensive assembly of clinical parameters and two polymorphisms in the ST2 gene, -26999G/A, located in the distal promoter region, and ala78glu polymorphism, on exon 3. The A allele of the -26999G/A polymorphism occurred more frequently in asthmatics compared with an unselected control group (P = 0.031). Serum ST2 levels were substantially higher during acute asthma compared with levels after the attack: 0.29 ng/ml (95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.36) and 0.14 ng/ml (0.12-0.17), respectively (P = 0.001) and were inversely related to eosinophil counts during an acute asthma attack (P = 0.002). The -26999AA genotype, as well as the AC haplotype, was associated with asthma severity scores (P = 0.05 and 0.02) compared with the -26999GA and GG genotypes. Serum ST2 levels were not associated with any of the studied genotypes or haplotypes. The observed associations of ST2 genotypes and haplotypes with acute asthma and asthma severity scores as well as the phenotypic differences associated with ST2 polymorphisms suggest that ST2 may play a role in the pathophysiology of asthma.

Association of TNF-alpha with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection and bronchial asthma

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)alpha is a proinflammatory cytokine that is important in the innate host defence and thus in the defence of infectious agents. However, in excess it provokes the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to test association of TNF with severe RSV bronchiolitis as example of an infectious disease and asthma as representative for a chronic inflammatory condition. The following study populations were genotyped for 4 polymorphisms within TNF-beta (rs909253) and TNF-alpha (rs1799964, rs1799724, rs1800629): 322 asthmatic children, 151 children with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis and 270 controls. Furthermore, serum TNF-alpha levels were measured by a FlowCytomix Assay. Asthma showed association with two TNF-alpha polymorphisms as well as with TNF haplotypes (p = 0.0050). In contrast, RSV bronchiolitis was associated with TNF haplotypes (p < 0.00001) but not with any single polymorphism. In addition, TNF-alpha serum levels correlated with rs1799724 (p = 0.034). A genetically mediated up-regulation of TNF-alpha expression might provoke a pronounced inflammation of the airways and thus a more severe course of RSV infection as well as the onset of asthma. It remains to be elucidated whether severe RSV bronchiolitis starts TNF-alpha upregulation and is one first step in the direction to asthma later in life, or whether both diseases are independent from each other and supported by TNF-alpha upregulation.

Chemokine-receptor upregulation and disease severity in respiratory syncytial virus infection

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection is an important cause of severe infant bronchiolitis, partly due to lower airway inflammation orchestrated by virus-induced chemokine secretion. Chemokine receptors may therefore be therapeutic targets. We investigated RSV-induced chemokine receptor (CCR) 1, 2 and 5 surface expressions in a cellular model and in infants. RSV infection increased human monocytic CCR1, 2 and 5 expression, as assessed by FACS, via replication-dependent mechanisms. CCR1 and CCR5 levels peaked at 36 h and CCR2 levels at 48 h. Monocytes from infants with RSV-bronchiolitis significantly increased CCR1 expression after ex vivo RSV infection compared to controls. Expression of CCR5 also increased, and correlated with CCR1 expression (r=0.78, p<0.0001). CCR1 upregulation correlated with disease severity markers. Monocyte CCR1 receptors were functionally active as stimulation resulted in calcium influx. CCR1/5 blocking strategies may be useful in decreasing cellular inflammation in RSV infection.

Effect of destrin mutations on the gene expression profile in vivo

Remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton through actin dynamics (assembly and disassembly of filamentous actin) is known to be essential for numerous basic biological processes. In addition, recent studies have provided evidence that actin dynamics participate in the control of gene expression. A spontaneous mouse mutant, corneal disease 1 (corn1), is deficient for a regulator of actin dynamics, destrin (DSTN, also known as ADF), which causes epithelial hyperproliferation and neovascularization in the cornea. Dstn(corn1) mice exhibit an actin dynamics defect in the corneal epithelial cells, offering an in vivo model to investigate cellular mechanisms affected by the Dstn mutation and resultant actin dynamics abnormalities. To examine the effect of the Dstn(corn1) mutation on the gene expression profile, we performed a microarray analysis using the cornea from Dstn(corn1) and wild-type mice. A dramatic alteration of the gene expression profile was observed in the Dstn(corn1) cornea, with 1,226 annotated genes differentially expressed. Functional annotation of these genes revealed that the most significantly enriched functional categories are associated with actin and/or cytoskeleton. Among genes that belong to these categories, a considerable number of serum response factor target genes were found, indicating the possible existence of an actin-SRF pathway of transcriptional regulation in vivo. A comparative study using an allelic mutant strain with milder corneal phenotypes suggested that the level of filamentous actin may correlate with the level of gene expression changes. Our study shows that Dstn mutations and resultant actin dynamics abnormalities have a strong impact on the gene expression profile in vivo.