HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hamelin, M.-E. Articles by Boivin, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hamelin, M.-E. Articles by Boivin, G. Agricola Articles by Hamelin, M.-E. Articles by Boivin, G.

Enhanced lung disease and Th2 response following human metapneumovirus infection in mice immunized with the inactivated virus

¹ Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the ‘Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec’ and Laval University, 2705 blvd Laurier, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
² Anatomic Pathology Service, Laval Hospital and Cardiology–Pulmonary Institute of Laval University, 2725 chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec City, QC, Canada

Correspondence
Guy Boivin
Guy.Boivin{at}crchul.ulaval.ca
Marie-Ève Hamelin
marie-eve.hamelin{at}crchul.ulaval.ca

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a paramyxovirus that causes acute respiratory-tract infections in humans. The histopathological and immunological responses to hMPV infection in BALB/c mice immunized with inactivated hMPV were characterized. Animals were immunized intraperitoneally with PBS, supernatant from non-infected LLC-MK2 cells and from heat-inactivated influenza A- or hMPV-infected cells, all in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, or with heat-inactivated hMPV without adjuvant, and then infected intranasally with 10⁸ TCID₅₀ virus. Following infection, lung samples and bronchoalveolar lavages were collected for determination of viral titre and cytokine levels and for histopathological studies. On day 1, 26 % of mice immunized with inactivated hMPV and adjuvant died, compared with none in the other groups. There was more significant lung inflammation associated with eosinophilic infiltration, as well as increased levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5, in the bronchoalveolar lavages of mice immunized with hMPV alone or with the adjuvant. Mice from the last two groups had a 4–5 log₁₀ decrease in their pulmonary viral titres compared with controls. Our data demonstrate the risks associated with immunization using inactivated hMPV in this animal model and that this aberrant response should be considered in the development of hMPV vaccines.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Herfst, M. de Graaf, E. J. A. Schrauwen, L. Sprong, K. Hussain, B. G. van den Hoogen, A. D. M. E. Osterhaus, and R. A. M. Fouchier Generation of temperature-sensitive human metapneumovirus strains that provide protective immunity in hamsters J. Gen. Virol., July 1, 2008; 89(7): 1553 - 1562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]