Neonatal respiratory syncytial virus infection has an effect on lung inflammation and the CD4 super(+)CD25 super(+) T cell subpopulation during ovalbumin sensitization in adult mice

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 2016-08, Vol.185 (2), p.190-201
• Main Authors: Comas-Garcia, A, Lopez-Pacheco, C P, Garcia-Zepeda, E A, Soldevila, G, Ramos-Martinez, P, Ramos-Castaneda, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Respiratory syncytial virus
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/cei.12793

In BALB/c adult mice, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection enhances the degree of lung inflammation before and/or after ovalbumin (OVA) respiratory sensitization. However, it is unclear whether RSV infection in newborn mice has an effect on the immune response to OVA respiratory sensitization in adult mice. The aim of this study was to determine if RSV neonatal infection alters T CD4 super(+) population and lung inflammation during OVA respiratory sensitization in adult mice. BALB/c mice were infected with RSV on the fourth day of life and challenged by OVA 4 weeks later. We found that in adult mice, RSV neonatal infection prior to OVA sensitization reduces the CD4 super(+)CD25 super(+) and CD4 super(+)CD25 super(+) forkhead protein 3 (FoxP3) super(+) cell populations in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage. Furthermore, it also attenuates the inflammatory infiltrate and cytokine/chemokine expression levels in the mouse airways. In conclusion, the magnitude of the immune response to a non-viral respiratory perturbation in adult mice is not enhanced by a neonatal RSV infection.