Differential resistance/susceptibility patterns to pneumovirus infection among inbred mouse strains

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology 2006-09, Vol.291 (3), p.43
• Main Authors: Dao Bui Tran Anh, Faisca, Pedro, Desmecht, Daniel J-M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Genes; Immune system; Respiratory diseases; Rodents
• ISSN: 1040-0605; 1522-1504

Respiratory synclinal virus (RSV) is a prominent cause of airway morbidity in children under 1 year of age. It is assumed that host factors influence the severity of the disease presentation and thus the need for hospitalization. As a first step toward the identification of the underlying genes involved, this study was undertaken to establish whether inbred mouse strains differ in susceptibility to pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), the murine counterpart of RSV, which has been shown to accurately mimic the RSV disease of children. With this purpose in mind, double-chamber plethysmography and carbon monoxide uptake data were collected daily for 7 days after inoculation of PVM in six inbred strains of mice. In parallel, histological examinations and lung viral titration were carried out from day 5 to day 7 after inoculation. Pulmonary structure/function values reflected the success of viral replication in the lungs and revealed a pattern of continuous variation, with resistant, intermediate, and susceptible strains. The results suggest that SJL (resistant) and 129/Sv (susceptible) strains should be used in crossing experiments aimed at identifying genes controlling pneumovirus replication by the positional cloning approach. Similarly, crossing experiments using BALB/c or C57BL/6 (resistant) and DBA/2 or 129/Sv (susceptible) will allow the identification of the genes involved in the control of pulmonary inflammation during pneumovirus infection. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]