TY - JOUR T1 - Age-dependent response of the human nasal epithelium to rhinovirus infection JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.4655 VL - 56 IS - suppl 64 SP - 4655 AU - Jakob Usemann AU - Marco P Alves AU - Nicole Ritz AU - Philipp Latzin AU - Loretta Müller Y1 - 2020/09/07 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/suppl_64/4655.abstract N2 - Human rhinovirus (RV)-induced wheezing in early childhood is associated with later asthma. RV-infection at age 2-3 years is more closely associated with later asthma compared to RV-infection during the first year of life. Furthermore, compared to childhood, RV-infections in adulthood are usually less severe, indicating age-dependent host response upon RV-infection.To investigate age-dependent anti-RV response mechanisms in respiratory epithelial cells in vitro.We cultured brushed cells to obtain re-differentiated, air-liquid interface exposed nasal epithelial cells (NECs) of healthy children (0-7 years) and adults. We infected NECs with RV-16 or RV-1b (multiplicity of infection 1 or 4). Viral load and anti-RV response were analyzed by RT-PCR and multiplex bead-based immunoassays. We compared anti-RV response between age groups.We studied NECs from 49 children and 12 adults. RV-infection resulted in upregulation of viral loads and viral-specific immune factors, including viral entry receptors, pattern recognition receptors, β-defensins, interferons, chemo-and cytokines. Viral load levels were significantly lower in adults compared to children, and were lower in infants compared to children. Immune factor levels (viral entry receptors, pattern recognition receptors, β-defensins, cytokines) were significantly lower in NECs from children compared to adults, after RV-infection and also in uninfected controls.Viral loads after RV-infection are higher and expression of immune factors is lower in NECs from children compared to adults. This may explain age-dependent severity of RV-infections and association of RV-induced wheezing with asthma development.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 4655.This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -