Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Human rhinovirus (HRV) may cause lower tract respiratory infection. The contribution of the host response to disease severity is unclear. We studied the innate immune response of RSV infected patients of different severity compared to patients co-infected with HRV and HRV infected patients with a control group.
We studied in the nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and in the plasma the following cytokines: IL-12, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8. A score previously described (Pediatrics 2012; 130:e840-11) was used to define severity. RSV load and HRV were determined by a qPCR technique. Cytokines were quantified by flow cytometry. Results were expressed as medians and analysis was performed by non-parametric test ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis. Study was approval by the ethics committee.
We identified 86 RSV infected infants, 38 had a severe disease, 28 a mild disease, 20 co-infected with HRV, 26 HRV infected and 33 controls. The severity was similar in RSV patients either with or without co-infection with HRV. Patients only infected with HRV had a mild disease. IL-6 obtained from NPA and plasma from mild RSV patients was significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to mild HRV. IL-12 obtained from plasma was increased (p<0.05) in HRV infected patients compared to mild RSV infected infants. All inflammatory cytokines were increased in plasma and NPA from HRV infected patients compared to healthy controls
Both viruses, RSV and HRV induce an innate inflammatory response. Il-12 and IL-6 have a different expression according to the type of virus and the severity of the desease.
Supported by a grant from Fondecyt 1120411.
- © 2014 ERS
