The induction and regulation of CD4 T cells by cytokines following acute respiratory syncytial virus infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in young children. RSV-induced disease is believed to be the result of a dysregulated host immune response resulting in immunopathology. However, there is no FDA approved vaccine for RSV and treatment only includes supportive care. Therefore, therapeutic treatments and strategies to regulate the immune response are needed to limit immunopathology for individuals with severe RSV-induced disease.

Regulation of the immune response in the mucosal lung environment is vital to maintain tissue homeostasis and prevent immunopathology. Our current data suggests that various RSV strains result in the differential induction of the innate immune and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses following infection, resulting in a differential phenotype of the CD4 T cell response. Given CD4 T cells contribute to disease severity following RSV infection, we previously investigated the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) as a mechanism of immune regulation following RSV A2 infection. Our data demonstrated the ability of IL-10 to negatively regulate the pathogenic CD4 T cell response and suppress the severity of RSV-induced disease following RSV A2 infection. Thus determining the mechanism of differential CD4 T cell polarization and regulation by various RSV strains and its role in disease would provide critical insight into RSV pathogenesis.

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