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. 2019 Dec 2:9:63.
doi: 10.1186/s13601-019-0302-7. eCollection 2019.

Rhinovirus species and tonsillar immune responses

Emilia Mikola  1   2 , Oscar Palomares  3   4   5 , Riitta Turunen  6 , Matti Waris  7   8 , Lotta E Ivaska  1 , Antti Silvoniemi  1 , Tuomo Puhakka  1   2 , Beate Rückert  3   4 , Tytti Vuorinen  7   8 , Mübeccel Akdis  3   4 , Cezmi A Akdis  3   4 , Tuomas Jartti  9
Affiliations

Rhinovirus species and tonsillar immune responses

Emilia Mikola et al. Clin Transl Allergy. .

Abstract

Background: Rhinovirus A and C infections are important contributors to asthma induction and exacerbations. No data exist on the interaction of local immune responses in rhinovirus infection. Therefore, we aimed to determine the tonsillar immune responses according to rhinovirus A, B and C infections.

Methods: We collected tonsillar samples, nasopharyngeal aspirates and peripheral blood from 42 rhinovirus positive tonsillectomy patients. Fifteen respiratory viruses or their types were investigated from nasopharynx and tonsil tissue, and rhinovirus species were typed. The expression of 10 cytokines and 4 transcription factors (IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IL-28, IL-29, IL-37, TGF-β, FOXP3, GATA3, RORC2 and Tbet) were studied from tonsil tissue by quantitative PCR. A standard questionnaire of respiratory symptoms and health was filled by the patient or his/her guardian. The patients were divided into three groups by the determination of rhinovirus species.

Results: Overall, 16 patients had rhinovirus A, 12 rhinovirus B and 14 rhinovirus C infection. In rhinovirus B positive group there were significantly less men (P = 0.0072), less operated in spring (P = 0.0096) and more operated in fall (P = 0.030) than in rhinovirus A or C groups. Rhinovirus A positive patients had more respiratory symptoms (P = 0.0074) and particularly rhinitis (P = 0.036) on the operation day. There were no significant differences between the groups in virus codetection. In adjusted analysis, rhinovirus C infections were associated with increased IFN-α (P = 0.045) and decreased RORC2 expression (P = 0.025).

Conclusions: Rhinovirus species associated differently with clinical characteristics and tonsillar cytokine responses.

Keywords: Allergy; Asthma; Children; Cytokine; Rhinovirus; Tonsil.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow chart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Relative tonsillar expression of IFN-α. Comparison of tonsil samples between 16 RV-A, 12 RV-B and 14 RV-C positive patients (Table 3). Values are arbitrary units × 104 relative to EF1α. Data represents median with interquartile range. The median of RV-B is 0.37. IFN, interferon
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Relative tonsillar expression of RORC2. Comparison of tonsil samples between 16 RV-A, 12 RV-B and 14 RV-C positive patients (Table 3). Values are arbitrary units × 104 relative to EF1α. Data represents median with interquartile range. RORC2, RAR-related orphan receptor C 2
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Relative tonsillar expression of Tbet. Comparison of tonsil samples between 16 RV-A, 12 RV-B and 14 RV-C positive patients (Table 3). Values are arbitrary units × 104 relative to EF1α. Data represents median with interquartile range. Tbet, T-box transcription factor
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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