IFN-γ Attenuates Eosinophilic Inflammation but Is Not Essential for Protection against RSV-Enhanced Asthmatic Comorbidity in Adult Mice

Abenaya Muralidharan, Md Bashir Uddin, Christopher Bauer, Wenzhe Wu, Xiaoyong Bao, Keer Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The susceptibility to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in early life has been associated with a deficient T-helper cell type 1 (Th1) response. Conversely, healthy adults generally do not exhibit severe illness from RSV infection. In the current study, we investigated whether Th1 cytokine IFN-γ is essential for protection against RSV and RSV-associated comorbidities in adult mice. We found that, distinct from influenza virus, prior RSV infection does not induce significant IFN-γ production and susceptibility to secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in adult wild-type (WT) mice. In ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice, RSV super-infection increases airway neutrophil recruitment and inflammatory lung damage but has no significant effect on OVA-induced eosinophilia. Compared with WT controls, RSV infection of asthmatic Ifng−/− mice results in increased airway eosinophil accumulation. However, a comparable increase in eosinophilia was detected in house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthmatic Ifng−/− mice in the absence of RSV infection. Furthermore, neither WT nor Ifng−/− mice exhibit apparent eosinophil infiltration during RSV infection alone. Together, these findings indicate that, despite its critical role in limiting eosinophilic inflammation during asthma, IFN-γ is not essential for protection against RSV-induced exacerbation of asthmatic inflammation in adult mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number147
JournalViruses
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Comorbidity
  • RSV

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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