[Effect of ribavirin upon secretion of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in respiratory syncytial virus-induced asthma exacerbation of mice].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of ribavirin (RIB) in treating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced asthma exacerbation of mice. METHODS: (1) Cell experiment 32 flasks of human airway epithelial cell 16HBEs were randomly divided into four groups RSV group, RSV/RIB group, RIB group and control group. 16HBEs were infected with RSV at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2. RIB 50 microg/ml was added in culture medium and Western blot used to detect the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) protein; (2) Animal experiment 32 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups Ovalbumin (OVA) group, OVA/RSV group, OVA/RSV/RIB group and control group. Mice were sensitized by OVA and stimulated with nebulized OVA. RSV was inoculated into murine nasal cavity and RIB 10 mg/kg intramuscularly administered. BUXCO noninvasive murine lung function detection instrument was used to examine the airway response to metacholine; ELISA was used to detect IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in murine serum and TSLP in supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); murine lung specimens were stained with HE to observe inflammation and immunohistochemical technique was employed to observe the production of TSLP in murine airway epithelial cells. RESULTS: The cell experiment demonstrated the productions of TSLP protein in RSV group, RSV/RIB group, RIB group and control group were 1.97 +/- 0.22, 1.16 +/- 0.19, 0.99 +/- 0.17 and 0.89 +/- 0.08 respectively, and the production of TSLP in RSV/RIB group was lower than that in RSV group (P < 0.01). The animal experiment demonstrated that the murine airway responsiveness in RSV/OVA/RIB group was lower than that in OVA/RSV group (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-4 [(109.7 +/- 41.9) pg/ml], IL-5 [(220.8 +/- 30.9) pg/ml], IFN-gamma [(13.0 +/- 3.4) pg/ml] in murine serum and TSLP [(1945 +/- 82) pg/ml] in BALF of RSV/OVA/RIB group were significantly lower than those in OVA/RSV group [(274.2 +/- 103.7), (293.3 +/- 46.1), (30.1 +/- 5.7) and (2127 +/- 46) pg/ml respectively, all P < 0.01]; less infiltration of airway inflammatory cells in OVA/RSV/RIB group was observed than that in OVA/RSV group. Immunohistochemical staining of TSLP also showed a lower production of TSLP in airway epithelial cells of OVA/RSV/RIB group than OVA/RSV group. CONCLUSION: Ribavirin can inhibit the elevated production of TSLP after RSV infection and relieve RSV-induced asthma exacerbation in mice.