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The immunobiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection

The immunobiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection
The immunobiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection

This thesis outlines the role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infantile viral bronchiolitis, it assesses the role of local airway epithelial responses to RSV infection and the role of the alveolar macrophage in the pathophysiology of RSV infection.

The localised immune in-vitro responses of epithelial cells and airway macrophages were studied; protein cytokine protein production as well as cytokine mRNA analysis was performed to investigate the innate immune response to RSV infection. The results were correlated with the infecting viral load and this was analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

A study of children during their first RSV season was performed, the nasal and peripheral blood cytokine responses during the first week of RSV infection were analysed, and those children who developed bronchiolitis were compared to those that only developed an upper respiratory infection.

The results demonstrate that RSV infection of epithelial cells can stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which would recruit and stimulate incoming immune cells. There was evidence of the production of protective proteins such as the defensins and nitric oxide from epithelial cells. In-vitro macrophage infection leads to a skew towards Th2-type responses, with a reduction in interleukin (IL) -18 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), which could lead to subsequent asthma or atopy.

Analysis of the cytokine responses from children with RSV infection correlated with the in-vitro data, with evidence of an early skew towards a Th-2 type response (IL-4/IFN-γ ratio and IL-10/IL-12 ratio) in both airway secretions and blood of children that developed RSV bronchiolitis.

This study provides evidence of a skew towards a Th-2 type response within 48 hours of the onset of respiratory symptoms. There are no previously published reports that have demonstrated a reduction in IL-18 in association with infection or the production of defensins following viral infection.

University of Southampton
Hussain, Imran Raza
fe0ed190-3507-4510-8cbf-21e4b1aee8e8
Hussain, Imran Raza
fe0ed190-3507-4510-8cbf-21e4b1aee8e8

Hussain, Imran Raza (2003) The immunobiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This thesis outlines the role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infantile viral bronchiolitis, it assesses the role of local airway epithelial responses to RSV infection and the role of the alveolar macrophage in the pathophysiology of RSV infection.

The localised immune in-vitro responses of epithelial cells and airway macrophages were studied; protein cytokine protein production as well as cytokine mRNA analysis was performed to investigate the innate immune response to RSV infection. The results were correlated with the infecting viral load and this was analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

A study of children during their first RSV season was performed, the nasal and peripheral blood cytokine responses during the first week of RSV infection were analysed, and those children who developed bronchiolitis were compared to those that only developed an upper respiratory infection.

The results demonstrate that RSV infection of epithelial cells can stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which would recruit and stimulate incoming immune cells. There was evidence of the production of protective proteins such as the defensins and nitric oxide from epithelial cells. In-vitro macrophage infection leads to a skew towards Th2-type responses, with a reduction in interleukin (IL) -18 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ), which could lead to subsequent asthma or atopy.

Analysis of the cytokine responses from children with RSV infection correlated with the in-vitro data, with evidence of an early skew towards a Th-2 type response (IL-4/IFN-γ ratio and IL-10/IL-12 ratio) in both airway secretions and blood of children that developed RSV bronchiolitis.

This study provides evidence of a skew towards a Th-2 type response within 48 hours of the onset of respiratory symptoms. There are no previously published reports that have demonstrated a reduction in IL-18 in association with infection or the production of defensins following viral infection.

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Published date: 2003

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Local EPrints ID: 465105
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465105
PURE UUID: 875888b3-647b-46f7-a290-00ec1a5aaba9

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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 00:23
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 19:57

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Author: Imran Raza Hussain

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