Innate Immune Responses to Influenza Virus Infections in the Upper Respiratory Tract

The innate immune system is the host's first line of immune defence against any invading pathogen. To establish an infection in a human host the influenza virus must replicate in epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract. However, there are several innate immune mechanisms in place to sto...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Viruses 2021-10, Vol.13 (10), p.2090
Main Authors: Mifsud, Edin J, Kuba, Miku, Barr, Ian G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Adaptive immunity
Animals
Binding sites
Cytokines
Cytoplasm
Epithelial cells
Epithelial Cells - pathology
Glycoproteins
Homeostasis
Humans
Immune clearance
Immune response
Immune system
Immunity, Innate - immunology
Infections
Influenza
Influenza A virus - immunology
Influenza A virus - pathogenicity
Influenza A virus - physiology
influenza virus
Influenza, Human - immunology
innate immune system
Innate immunity
Lung - virology
Older people
Orthomyxoviridae - pathogenicity
Orthomyxoviridae Infections - immunology
Orthomyxoviridae Infections - virology
Pandemics
Proteins
Replication
Respiratory system
Respiratory tract
Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology
Respiratory Tract Infections - virology
Review
RNA polymerase
Surfactants
upper respiratory tract
Viral infections
Viruses
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Summary:The innate immune system is the host's first line of immune defence against any invading pathogen. To establish an infection in a human host the influenza virus must replicate in epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract. However, there are several innate immune mechanisms in place to stop the virus from reaching epithelial cells. In addition to limiting viral replication and dissemination, the innate immune system also activates the adaptive immune system leading to viral clearance, enabling the respiratory system to return to normal homeostasis. However, an overzealous innate immune system or adaptive immune response can be associated with immunopathology and aid secondary bacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract leading to pneumonia. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms utilised by the innate immune system to limit influenza virus replication and the damage caused by influenza viruses on the respiratory tissues and how these very same protective immune responses can cause immunopathology.
ISSN:1999-4915
1999-4915
DOI:10.3390/v13102090