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Review
. 2018 Dec 1;10(12):682.
doi: 10.3390/v10120682.

Small Animal Models of Respiratory Viral Infection Related to Asthma

Mingyuan Han  1 , Charu Rajput  2 , Tomoko Ishikawa  3 , Caitlin R Jarman  4 , Julie Lee  5 , Marc B Hershenson  6   7
Affiliations
Review

Small Animal Models of Respiratory Viral Infection Related to Asthma

Mingyuan Han et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Respiratory viral infections are strongly associated with asthma exacerbations. Rhinovirus is most frequently-detected pathogen; followed by respiratory syncytial virus; metapneumovirus; parainfluenza virus; enterovirus and coronavirus. In addition; viral infection; in combination with genetics; allergen exposure; microbiome and other pathogens; may play a role in asthma development. In particular; asthma development has been linked to wheezing-associated respiratory viral infections in early life. To understand underlying mechanisms of viral-induced airways disease; investigators have studied respiratory viral infections in small animals. This report reviews animal models of human respiratory viral infection employing mice; rats; guinea pigs; hamsters and ferrets. Investigators have modeled asthma exacerbations by infecting mice with allergic airways disease. Asthma development has been modeled by administration of virus to immature animals. Small animal models of respiratory viral infection will identify cell and molecular targets for the treatment of asthma.

Keywords: animal model; asthma; respiratory disease; rhinovirus; viral infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example of an allergen sensitization and challenge model of allergic airways disease. Following the last challenge, mice are infected with human rhinovirus (HRV) to simulate an asthma exacerbation. The combination of house dust mite (HDM) exposure and viral infection induces an additive increase in airway eosinophils.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Array of airway cells involved in the response to viral infection. Viruses replicate in the airway epithelium and epithelial cells secrete chemokines which attract innate immune cells to the airway. The airway epithelium also includes resident dendritic cells that respond to allergens, pathogens and damage signals. Among the other innate immune cells shown to be activated after viral infection are exudative macrophages (also called inflammatory monocytes) and innate lymphoid cells. Epithelial-derived innate cytokines (IL-25, IL-33 and TSLP) play a special role as they may activate type 2 helper T (Th2) cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) which elaborate type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) leading to mucous metaplasia. Thus, under certain circumstances, initiation of type 2 inflammation by viruses may not require allergen exposure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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