NK cells contribute to persistent airway inflammation and AHR during the later stage of RSV infection in mice.
RSV can lead to persistent airway inflammation and AHR and is intimately associated with childhood recurrent wheezing and asthma, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. There are high numbers of NK cells in the lung, which not only play important roles in the acute stage of RSV infection, but also are pivotal in regulating the pathogenesis of asthma. Therefore, in this study, we assumed that NK cells might contribute to persistent airway disease during the later stage of RSV infection. Mice were killed at serial time points after RSV infection to collect samples. Leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted, lung histopathology was examined, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was measured by whole-body plethysmography. Cytokines were detected by ELISA, and NK cells were determined by flow cytometry. Rabbit anti-mouse asialo-GM-1 antibodies and resveratrol were used to deplete or suppress NK cells. Inflammatory cells in BALF, lung tissue damage and AHR were persistent for 60 days post-RSV infection. Type 2 cytokines and NK cells were significantly increased during the later stage of infection. When NK cells were decreased by the antibodies or resveratrol, type 2 cytokines, the persistent airway inflammation and AHR were all markedly reduced. NK cells can contribute to the RSV-associated persistent airway inflammation and AHR at least partially by promoting type 2 cytokines. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of NK cells may provide a novel approach to alleviating the recurrent wheezing subsequent to RSV infection.
['Long|Xiaoru|X|', 'Xie|Jun|J|', 'Zhao|Keting|K|', 'Li|Wei|W|', 'Tang|Wei|W|', 'Chen|Sisi|S|', 'Zang|Na|N|', 'Ren|Luo|L|', 'Deng|Yu|Y|', 'Xie|Xiaohong|X|', 'Wang|Lijia|L|', 'Fu|Zhou|Z|', 'Liu|Enmei|E|']
D000818:Animals D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid D016207:Cytokines D004195:Disease Models, Animal D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay D005260:Female D005434:Flow Cytometry D006651:Histocytochemistry D007249:Inflammation D007694:Killer Cells, Natural D008168:Lung D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D008819:Mice, Nude D010991:Plethysmography D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
NK cells Persistent airway inflammation AHR RSV Type 2 cytokines