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Title: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Severity Is Associated with Distinct CD8+ T-Cell Profiles.

Authors: Siefker, David T; Vu, Luan; You, Dahui; McBride, Andrew; Taylor, Ryleigh; Jones, Tamekia L; DeVincenzo, John; Cormier, Stephania A

Published In Am J Respir Crit Care Med, (2020 02 01)

Abstract: Rationale: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes significant morbidity and mortality in infants worldwide. Although T-helper type 2 (Th2) cell pathology is implicated in severe disease, the mechanisms underlying the development of immunopathology are incompletely understood.Objectives: We aimed to identify local immune responses associated with severe RSV in infants. Our hypothesis was that disease severity would correlate with enhanced Th2 cellular responses.Methods: Nasal aspirates were collected from infants hospitalized with severe (admitted to the pediatric ICU) or moderate (maintained in the general ward) RSV disease at 5 to 9 days after enrollment. The immune response was investigated by evaluating T-lymphocyte cellularity, cytokine concentration, and viral load.Measurements and Main Results: Patients with severe disease had increased proportions of CD8 (cluster of differentiation 8)-positive T cells expressing IL-4 (Tc2) and reduced proportions of CD8+ T cells expressing IFNγ (Tc1). Nasal aspirates from patients with severe disease had reduced concentrations of IL-17. Patients with greater frequencies of Tc1, CD8+ T cells expressing IL-17 (Tc17), and CD4+ T cells expressing IL-17 (Th17) had shorter durations of hospitalization.Conclusions: Severe RSV disease was associated with distinct T-cell profiles. Tc1, Tc17, and Th17 were associated with shorter hospital stay and may play a protective role, whereas Tc2 cells may play a previously underappreciated role in pathology.

PubMed ID: 31644878 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology*; Correlation of Data; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Length of Stay; Male; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/immunology*; Severity of Illness Index

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