Effect of ethnicity on care pathway and outcomes in patients hospitalized with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the UK.

Data were extracted from the case records of UK patients admitted with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. White and non-White patients were characterized by age, sex, socioeconomic status, pandemic wave and indicators of pre-morbid health status. Logistic regression examined differences by ethnicity in patient characteristics, care pathway and clinical outcomes; multivariable models controlled for potential confounders. Whites (n = 630) and non-Whites (n = 510) differed by age, socioeconomic status, pandemic wave of admission, pregnancy, recorded obesity, previous and current smoking, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After adjustment for a priori confounders non-Whites were less likely to have received pre-admission antibiotics [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0·43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·28-0·68, P < 0·001) but more likely to receive antiviral drugs as in-patients (aOR 1·53, 95% CI 1·08-2·18, P = 0·018). However, there were no significant differences by ethnicity in delayed admission, severity at presentation for admission, or likelihood of severe outcome.

Influenza virus lung infection protects from respiratory syncytial virus-induced immunopathology.

The effect of infection history is ignored in most animal models of infectious disease. The attachment protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) induces T helper cell type 2-driven pulmonary eosinophilia in mice similar to that seen in the failed infant vaccinations in the 1960s. We show that previous influenza virus infection of mice: (a) protects against weight loss, illness, and lung eosinophilia; (b) attenuates recruitment of inflammatory cells; and (c) reduces cytokine secretion caused by RSV attachment protein without affecting RSV clearance. This protective effect can be transferred via influenza-immune splenocytes to naive mice and is long lived. Previous immunity to lung infection clearly plays an important and underestimated role in subsequent vaccination and infection. The data have important implications for the timing of vaccinations in certain patient groups, and may contribute to variability in disease susceptibility observed in humans.

Distinct types of lung disease caused by functional subsets of antiviral T cells.

T cells appear to play a central role in viral bronchiolitis, but the effects of different functional and phenotypic subgroups of T cells have not been defined. To test the activities of T cells recognizing individual proteins of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, virus-specific T cell lines were produced from mice primed by scarification with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing the major surface glycoprotein (G), fusion protein (F) or second matrix (22K) protein of RS virus. As previously reported, the in vitro characteristics of these cells are predetermined by the choice of RS virus protein: 22K-specific cells are predominantly class I-restricted cytolytic CD8+ cells; F-specific cells, a mixture of cytolytic CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells with a T helper 1 cell (Th1) cytokine secretion profile, whereas those from G-sensitized mice are almost exclusively CD4+, with Th2 characteristics. Mice infected intranasally with RS virus showed mild illness and recovered fully, but developed respiratory distress after intravenous injections of T cells. Dose-for-dose, infected mice receiving G-specific cells suffered the most severe (sometimes fatal) illness, characterized by lung hemorrhage, pulmonary neutrophil recruitment (shock lung) and intense pulmonary eosinophilia. This disease was further enhanced by coinjection of 22K-specific cells, which alone caused mild shock lung without eosinophilia. F-specific cells caused minimal enhancement of pathology and had little or no effect on the disease caused by G-specific cells. Each cell line reduced lung virus titer and combined injections of G- and 22K-specific cells eliminated infection completely. The in vitro characteristics of these antiviral T cell lines therefore predict the pathological effects in vivo. Moreover, different forms of viral bronchiolitis can be caused by functionally distinct types of activated T cell.

Cytotoxic T cells clear virus but augment lung pathology in mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus.

We have examined the function of class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells in experimental respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of BALB/c mice by transfer of T cell line MJC-A2 and CTL clone E8a into RSV-infected mice. The T cell line cleared pulmonary RSV infection within 5 d in persistently infected gamma-irradiated mice, but caused acute respiratory disease. This was only seen in infected mice and was often lethal after transfer of greater than 3 x 10(6) CTL. Lower numbers of CTL produced less severe disease but still cleared lung RSV, albeit over a longer time course (up to 10 d). Clearance of lung RSV in immunocompetent mice by the T cell line and CTL clone was again accompanied by acute and sometimes lethal respiratory disease. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed severe lung hemorrhage and frequent neutrophil efflux in mice with CTL-augmented disease.

Inhibition of T1/ST2 during respiratory syncytial virus infection prevents T helper cell type 2 (Th2)- but not Th1-driven immunopathology.

T cells secreting interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 (T helper cell type 2 [Th2] cells) play a detrimental role in a variety of diseases, but specific methods of regulating their activity remain elusive. T1/ST2 is a surface ligand of the IL-1 receptor family, expressed on Th2- but not on interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing Th1 cells. Prior exposure of BALB/c mice to the attachment (G) or fusion (F) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increases illness severity during intranasal RSV challenge, due to Th2-driven lung eosinophilia and exuberant Th1-driven pulmonary infiltration, respectively. We used these polar models of viral illness to study the recruitment of T1/ST2 cells to the lung and to test the effects of anti-T1/ST2 treatment in vivo. T1/ST2 was present on a subset of CD4(+) cells from mice with eosinophilic lung disease. Monoclonal anti-T1/ST2 treatment reduced lung inflammation and the severity of illness in mice with Th2 (but not Th1) immunopathology. These results show that inhibition of T1/ST2 has a specific effect on virally induced Th2 responses and suggests that therapy targeted at this receptor might be of value in treating Th2-driven illness.

Eliminating a region of respiratory syncytial virus attachment protein allows induction of protective immunity without vaccine-enhanced lung eosinophilia.

In a murine model of respiratory syncytial virus disease, prior sensitization to the attachment glycoprotein (G) leads to pulmonary eosinophilia and enhanced illness. Three different approaches were taken to dissect the region of G responsible for enhanced disease and protection against challenge. First, mutant viruses, containing frameshifts that altered the COOH terminus of the G protein, were used to challenge mice sensitized by scarification with recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) expressing wild-type G. Second, cDNA expressing these mutated G proteins were expressed by rVV and used to vaccinate mice before challenge with wild-type respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These studies identified residues 193-205 to be responsible for G-induced weight loss and lung eosinophilia and showed that this region was not was not necessary for induction of protective immunity. Third, mice were sensitized using an rVV that expressed only amino acids 124-203 of the G protein. Upon RSV challenge, mice sensitized with this rVV developed enhanced weight loss and eosinophilia. This is the first time that a region within RSV (amino acids 193-203) has been shown to be responsible for induction of lung eosinophilia and disease enhancement. Moreover, we now show that it is possible to induce protective immunity with an altered G protein without inducing a pathological response.

Risk factors for hospitalisation and poor outcome with pandemic A/H1N1 influenza: United Kingdom first wave (May-September 2009).

BACKGROUND: During the first wave of pandemic H1N1 influenza in 2009, most cases outside North America occurred in the UK. The clinical characteristics of UK patients hospitalised with pandemic H1N1 infection and risk factors for severe outcome are described. METHODS: A case note-based investigation was performed of patients admitted with confirmed pandemic H1N1 infection. RESULTS: From 27 April to 30 September 2009, 631 cases from 55 hospitals were investigated. 13% were admitted to a high dependency or intensive care unit and 5% died; 36% were aged <16 years and 5% were aged > or = 65 years. Non-white and pregnant patients were over-represented. 45% of patients had at least one underlying condition, mainly asthma, and 13% received antiviral drugs before admission. Of 349 with documented chest x-rays on admission, 29% had evidence of pneumonia, but bacterial co-infection was uncommon. Multivariate analyses showed that physician-recorded obesity on admission and pulmonary conditions other than asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were associated with a severe outcome, as were radiologically-confirmed pneumonia and a raised C-reactive protein (CRP) level (> or = 100 mg/l). 59% of all in-hospital deaths occurred in previously healthy people. CONCLUSIONS: Pandemic H1N1 infection causes disease requiring hospitalisation of previously fit individuals as well as those with underlying conditions. An abnormal chest x-ray or a raised CRP level, especially in patients who are recorded as obese or who have pulmonary conditions other than asthma or COPD, indicate a potentially serious outcome. These findings support the use of pandemic vaccine in pregnant women, children <5 years of age and those with chronic lung disease.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection provokes airway remodelling in allergen-exposed mice in absence of prior allergen sensitization.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms underlying exacerbation of asthma induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection have been extensively studied in human and animal models. However, most of these studies focused on acute inflammation and little is known of its long-term consequences on remodelling of the airway tissue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to use a murine model of prolonged allergen-induced airway inflammation to investigate the effect of RSV infection on allergic airway inflammation and tissue remodelling. METHODS: We subjected mice to RSV infection before or during the chronic phase of airway challenges with OVA and compared parameters of airway inflammation and remodelling at the end-point of the prolonged allergen-induced airway inflammation protocol. RESULTS: RSV infection did not affect the severity of airway inflammation in any of the groups studied. However, RSV infection provoked airway remodelling in non-sensitized, allergen-challenged mice that did not otherwise develop any of the features of allergic airways disease. Increased collagen synthesis in the lung and thickening of the bronchial basal membrane was observed in non-sensitized allergen-challenged mice only after prior RSV infection. In addition, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 but not TGF-beta(1) was increased in this group following RSV infection. CONCLUSION: Our data show for the first time that RSV infection can prime the lung of mice that are not previously systemically sensitized, to develop airway remodelling in response to allergen upon sole exposure via the airways. Moreover, our results implicate RSV-induced FGF-2 in the remodelling process in vivo.

Flow cytometric measurement of intracellular cytokines.

The identification of distinct T helper lymphocyte subsets (Th1/2) with polarised cytokine production has opened up new fields in immunobiology. Of the several alternative methods of monitoring cytokine production, flow cytometric analysis of intracellular staining has distinct advantages and pitfalls. It allows high throughput of samples and multiparameter characterisation of cytokine production on a single cell basis without the need for prolonged in vitro culture and cloning. However, these methods may cause important changes in cell surface phenotype which can make interpretation difficult.

Observations on sputum production in patients with variable airflow obstruction; implications for the diagnosis of asthma and chronic bronchitis.

There are few clinical studies on hypersecretion in asthma, defined as variable airflow obstruction. One hundred and thirty defined asthmatics were questioned in detail about their clinical features, with special reference to sputum production. Other clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the hospital notes. Thirty (23%) denied sputum production at any time. Of the hundred patients reporting sputum, 55 reported the largest volume when an attack of asthma was at its worst and 42 reported most sputum during recovery. Three patients reported unchanging sputum volumes regardless of asthma attacks. There was an association between greater sputum volumes and increased absenteeism due to respiratory symptoms (P less than 0.01) and negative prick skin tests (P less than 0.001). Cigarette smoking and bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were uncommon among our patients, and did not alone account for the sputum production rates. Sixty-eight per cent of patients reported that their pattern or volume of sputum production during attacks had not changed substantially since the onset of their asthma. Patients also fulfilling the Medical Research Council (MRC) criteria for chronic bronchitis (n = 56) were more likely to have smoked than those who did not (P less than 0.005), although 32 (57%) of the asthmatics with chronic bronchitis had smoked little or not at all. Moreover the lability of peak flow measurements was similar in asthmatic patients with and without chronic bronchitis (Lability index 43 and 42% respectively). The prevalence of persistent airflow limitation (PAL) in addition to a variable component related to duration of asthma but not to smoking. The relation between PAL and sputum production was complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endogenous IL-21 regulates pathogenic mucosal CD4 T-cell responses during enhanced RSV disease in mice.

A role for interleukin-21 (IL-21) has recently been found in several diseases, but contribution to mucosal defences has not been described. In BALB/c mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), IL-21 depletion had little effect in primary infection. However, depletion of mice during priming with recombinant vaccinia expressing RSV G protein (which primes RSV-specific T helper type 2 cells and causes lung eosinophilia during RSV infection) further exacerbated pathology during RSV challenge, with reduced viral clearance and impaired virus-specific serum antibody responses. This enhancement was accompanied by lymphocyte, neutrophil, and antigen-presenting cell recruitment to the lungs, with increased bronchoalveolar lavage interferon-γ and IL-17 levels. Adoptive transfer of splenic CD4 T cells from depleted mice into naive recipients replicated these effects, indicating that IL-21 mediates its effects via CD4 T cells. Endogenous IL-21, therefore, has potent and specific effects on mucosal antiviral responses, assisting viral clearance, regulating pulmonary T- and B-cell responses, and inhibiting IL-17 production.

Regulatory T cells expressing granzyme B play a critical role in controlling lung inflammation during acute viral infection.

The inflammatory response to lung infections must be tightly regulated, enabling pathogen elimination while maintaining crucial gas exchange. Using recently described "depletion of regulatory T cell" (DEREG) mice, we found that selective depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) during acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection enhanced viral clearance but increased weight loss, local cytokine and chemokine release, and T-cell activation and cellular influx into the lungs. Conversely, inflammation was decreased when Treg numbers and activity were boosted using interleukin-2 immune complexes. Unexpectedly, lung (but not draining lymph node) Tregs from RSV-infected mice expressed granzyme B (GzmB), and bone marrow chimeric mice with selective loss of GzmB in the Treg compartment displayed markedly enhanced cellular infiltration into the lung after infection. A crucial role for GzmB-expressing Tregs has not hitherto been described in the lung or during acute infections, but may explain the inability of children with perforin/GzmB defects to regulate immune responses to infection. The effects of RSV infection in mice with defective immune regulation closely parallel the observed effects of RSV in children with bronchiolitis, suggesting that the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis may involve an inability to regulate virus-induced inflammation.

Crossing barriers: infections of the lung and the gut.

Although known as respiratory pathogens, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its sister coronaviruses frequently cause enteric symptoms. In addition, other classically non-enteric viruses (such as HIV and influenza) may also have enteric effects that are crucial in their pathogeneses. These effects can be due to direct infection of the gut mucosa, but can also be because of decreased antibacterial defenses, increased mucosal permeability, bacterial translocation, and systemic leak of endotoxin.

Pulmonary epithelial T cells induced by viral infection express T cell receptors alpha/beta.

Cells were recovered from the lungs of mice by bronchoalveolar lavage before and after infection with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus. Uninfected mice yielded mostly macrophages, but after RS virus infection lymphocytes also appeared. Recovered cells were stained for CD4, CD8' and either CD3, T cell receptor (TcR) alpha/beta or TcR gamma/delta and analyzed by 3-color flow cytometry. Both the CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ subpopulations stained uniformly for CD3 and TcR alpha/beta, while none stained for TcR gamma/delta. Of the CD4-CD8- cells, about 5% stained for CD3 and TcR alpha/beta during the first week after infection, although this figure increased during the second week. A small and variable fraction of this subset stained for TcR gamma/delta. These results oppose the view that lymphocytes expressing TcR gamma/delta predominate in initial epithelial immune responses to viral infections.