RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The effect of influenza virus infection on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P3881 VO 42 IS Suppl 57 A1 Jong-seo Yoon A1 Sulmui Won A1 Kyongwon Bang A1 Yoon Hong Chun A1 Hyun Hee Kim A1 Jin Tack Kim A1 Joon Sung Lee YR 2013 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3881.abstract AB Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanism of inflammatory cells accumulation into the airways after influenza infection in a murine model of asthma by comparing typical cytokines related to the production of eosinophils and neutrophils.Methods: House dust mite (HDM)-sensitized BALB/c mice were used as a model of influenza-asthma exacerbations. The airway cholinergic hyperresponsiveness, pulmonary histopathological changes, and bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis including cells and cytokine influx were observed 24 h following intranasal infection with influenza viruses.Results: Following influenza infection in asthmatic mice, the airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine was increased (P < 0.05). Lung tissue showed enhanced infiltration of neutrophils rather than eosinophils. BALF analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in neutrophils and decrease in eosinophils in the influenza-infected mice as compared to the HDM-sensitized mice. These changes were associated with an increased level of neutrophil chemotactic factor (CXCL1) in the BALF (P < 0.05). However, the levels of IL-1β -another important cytokine released in response to increased neutrophils- showed no changes. Regarding to eosinophils, eotaxin levels found in the BALF showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05). However IL-5, and regulated and normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) did not show significant changes.Conclusions: Our results show that the mechanism of asthma exacerbations by influenza infection may result from neutrophilic inflammation rather than eosinophilic inflammation. Cytokines may play a role in neutrophilic inflammation.