Reduced interferon-gamma secretion by natural killer cells from rats susceptible to postviral chronic airway dysfunction.

After parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus infection as weanlings, Brown Norway (BN), unlike Fischer 344 (F344), rats develop an asthma-like phenotype. Reduced postinfection interferon (IFN)-gamma levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from BN weanlings and the prevention of chronic airway sequelae in BN rats by IFN-gamma treatment led to the hypothesis that cells from BN weanlings have a reduced ability to secrete IFN-gamma. After stimulation with Sendai virus or interleukin (IL)-12, splenocytes from uninfected BN weanlings secreted significantly less IFN-gamma than did splenocytes from F344 weanlings (P < 0.005), as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Because levels of potential IFN-gamma-secreting cells in the spleen differed between the strains, natural killer (NK) cells, an important IFN-gamma source during early antiviral responses, were purified from spleens of uninfected weanlings. When stimulated with IL-12, BN NK cells secreted significantly less IFN-gamma than did F344 NK cells (P < 0.001). Incubation of NK cells from either strain with IL-12 and IL-18 resulted in synergistic increases in IFN-gamma production, but BN cells still secreted significantly less IFN-gamma than did F344 cells (P < 0.05). Similarly, after incubation with either IFN-alpha or IFN-alpha plus IL-18, BN NK cells secreted significantly less IFN-gamma than did F344 NK cells (P < 0.05). Therefore, reduced IFN-gamma secretion by NK cells in BN weanlings may play a role in the development of postviral chronic airway dysfunction.

Effect of ICAM-1 blockade on lung inflammation and physiology during acute viral bronchiolitis in rats.

Viral respiratory infections cause acute bronchiolitis and physiologic dysfunction in human infants and in animals. It is possible that the pulmonary dysfunction is a consequence of the inflammatory cells that are recruited during viral illness. We hypothesized that blockade of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a major cell adhesion molecule, would impede the ingress of leukocytes during viral infection and attenuate virus-induced pulmonary dysfunction. Adult male rats were inoculated with parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus or sterile vehicle, and treated with blocking or nonblocking MAb specific for rat ICAM-1. Respiratory system resistance, oxygenation (PaO2), methacholine responsiveness, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) leukocyte counts were measured in anesthetized, paralyzed, ventilated rats. Treatment with the blocking ICAM-1 antibody reduced virus-induced increases in BAL neutrophils and lymphocytes by 70% (p < 0.001), but did not affect BAL monocytes/macrophages. Peripheral blood leukocyte counts were elevated in anti-ICAM-1 blocking antibody-treated rats (p = 0.0003). Although virus-induced increases in resistance and decreases in PaO2 were not affected by anti-ICAM-1 treatment, there was a small but significant attenuation of virus-induced methacholine hyperresponsiveness (p = 0.02). We conclude that ICAM-1 has an important role in neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration during respiratory viral illness, and that virus-induced changes in pulmonary physiology are not related directly to the numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes that migrate to the air spaces during infection.

Serial segmental bronchoalveolar lavage in individual rats.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a well-characterized technique for analysis of cellular constituents of the airways and air spaces, but whole lung lavage requires that the animal be euthanized. We describe a technique of segmental BAL in rats that allows serial measurements of inflammation. A tracheal tube was placed, under direct visualization, in lightly anesthetized animals, and a catheter was passed through the tracheal tube and advanced to a wedge position. Five 0.1-ml volumes of buffer solution were instilled and then withdrawn with gentle suction. In normal rats, the percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils, and mononuclear cells had a high level of agreement in the segmental samples compared with those obtained subsequently by whole lung lavage. In rats with acute pulmonary inflammation, the differential leukocyte counts from segmental samples exhibited patterns of change that differed from those of whole lung lavage; however, most segmental samples were obtained from the left lung base so that regional variability could be minimized in serial studies. Lung mechanics and airway inflammation were not affected by repeated segmental BALs done 2 wk apart.

Prevention of chronic postbronchiolitis airway sequelae with IFN-gamma treatment in rats.

After viral bronchiolitis at an early age, Brown Norway (BN) rats develop chronic airway dysfunction consisting of inflammation, remodeling, episodic reversible obstruction, and hyperresponsiveness. We hypothesized that supplementation of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) during viral illness would alter the inflammatory response and attenuate the postviral sequelae. Weanling rats were treated daily with aerosolized interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), from 2 d prior through 7 d after inoculation, and compared with saline-treated infected rats and with noninfected control rats. The IFN-gamma treatment had no significant effect on viral titers, growth retardation, or total bronchoalveolar leukocytes, but there was a slight decrease in lung interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA (p = 0.015) during the first week. Despite having minimal effects on the acute illness, the IFN-gamma had marked effects on postviral sequelae, the IFN-gamma group having less bronchiolar inflammation (p = 0.025) and fibrosis (p = 0.01), and lacking abnormalities in pulmonary resistance (p = 0.028) and dynamic compliance (p = 0.006) compared with the untreated postviral group. We conclude that IFN-gamma modulated the inflammatory response to viral illness, such that acute airway injury did not evolve into chronic airway dysfunction. If similar processes contribute to the development of human asthma, it may be possible to interrupt the progression of airway dysfunction with an early immunomodulatory intervention.

Attenuation of virus-induced airway dysfunction in rats treated with imiquimod.

Viral respiratory infections cause acute airway abnormalities consisting of inflammation and physiological dysfunction in both animals and humans. It is likely that inflammatory cell products, such as cytokines, contribute substantially to viral-induced airway dysfunction. We hypothesized that imiquimod, an immune response enhancing agent that induces interferon-alpha, would attenuate the development of airway dysfunction during acute viral illness in rats. Adult Brown Norway rats were inoculated with parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus or sterile vehicle, and treated with either imiquimod or water. Respiratory system resistance (Rrs), arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2), lung viral titres and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) leucocyte counts were measured in anaesthetized, paralysed, ventilated rats. Virus-infected, water-treated rats had a significant decrease in Pa,O2 and had significant increases in leucocyte count and Rrs when compared to both the virus-infected, imiquimod-treated, (Pa,O2, p = 0.03; leucocyte count, p = 0.02; and Rrs, p = 0.009) and noninfected, water-treated rats (Pa,O2, p = 0.007; leucocyte count, p = 0.001; and Rrs, p = 0.01). In addition, imiquimod suppressed BAL eosinophils in both virus-infected (p = 0.02) and noninfected (p = 0.001) groups, and lowered overall virus titres (p = 0.03). Thus, both virus-induced airway inflammation and physiological dysfunction were attenuated significantly by imiquimod treatment in this animal model. By further delineating mechanisms by which infections induce airway dysfunction in animal models, more specific pharmacological interventions can be developed for the treatment of virus-induced asthma.

Chronic, episodic, reversible airway obstruction after viral bronchiolitis in rats.

Viral bronchiolitis in human infants has been associated with persistent airway abnormalities, but not proven as a cause. Previously we observed some adult rats had airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness following bronchiolitis at an early age. The purpose of this study was to determine, via serial measurements of lung mechanics, whether the postbronchiolitis airway obstruction was episodic or continuous, and to determine the magnitude and duration of glucocorticoid effects. Rats were either virus- (n = 14) or sham-inoculated (n = 8) at 3 wks of age. Lung mechanics were measured 6 times in each rat at postinoculation Weeks 11-18. Half the rats in each group were treated with dexamethasone for 3 d at Week 15. The virus group had higher lung resistance (p = 0.03) and lower dynamic compliance (p = 0.005) than control rats, with airway obstruction occurring in an episodic pattern. Dexamethasone treatment had a transient effect in postbronchiolitis rats; lung resistance normalized in Week 15 (p = 0.006), then returned to pretreatment levels by Weeks 16-18. We conclude that viral bronchiolitis in rats can result in a chronic syndrome of intermittent, reversible airway obstruction which has multiple parallels with human asthma over a prolonged time period.

Parainfluenza virus-induced persistence of airway inflammation, fibrosis, and dysfunction associated with TGF-beta 1 expression in brown Norway rats.

Parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus infection in young rats induces airway growth abnormalities associated with persistent pulmonary dysfunction and hyperresponsiveness. The objectives of this study were to compare virus-susceptible brown Norway (BN) rats and virus-resistant F344 rats and to determine which of several virus-induced structural abnormalities, including bronchiolar hypoplasia, alveolar dysplasia, bronchiolar mural fibrosis, and increases in bronchiolar mast cells, were associated with virus-induced increases in pulmonary resistance and hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. We also determined whether bronchiolar mural thickening and fibrosis may be caused by increased bronchiolar expression of cytokines such as TGF-beta 1 into airways. BN rats infected with virus developed increases in respiratory resistance and hyperresponsiveness that persisted for 28 to 65 d after inoculation. Functional abnormalities were most strongly associated with bronchiolar mural thickening and fibrosis as well as with recruitment of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, into the bronchiolar wall. F344 rats were resistant to significant virus-induced alterations in bronchiolar airway wall thickness and mast cell increases as well as to pulmonary function abnormalities. BN rats had increase pulmonary mRNA levels of TGF-beta 1 at 10 and 14 d after viral inoculation as compared with F344 rats. BN rats also had greater numbers of bronchiolar macrophages expressing TGF-beta 1 protein that were localized in bronchiolar walls at 10, 14, and 30 d after inoculation. We conclude that recruitment and persistence of airway inflammatory cells and airway wall fibrosis may be important alterations induced by viral lower respiratory disease during early life that can lead to long-term airway dysfunction and hyperresponsiveness. Virus-induced airway fibrosis may be mediated in part by increased TGF-beta 1 gene expression by bronchiolar macrophages in genetically susceptible individuals.

Reversal of persistent postbronchiolitis airway abnormalities with dexamethasone in rats.

Viral bronchiolitis is a common disease that may result in persistent airway abnormalities. Previous studies of neonatal bronchiolitis in rats revealed chronic sequelae, including airway obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, increased production of airway eicosanoids, and increased numbers of bronchiolar mast cells. To address the hypothesis that postbronchiolitis airway obstruction is caused in part by reversible processes, we tested whether obstruction could be reversed by a brief course of high-dose corticosteroids. Neonatal Brown Norway rats (5 days of age) were inoculated with parainfluenza type 1 virus or sterile vehicle. At 8 wk of age, rats were treated with dexamethasone (1.4 mg.kg-1 x day-1 sc) or saline for 3 days and were evaluated for lung mechanics, gas exchange, and lung inflammatory cells 1 day after the last injection. Dexamethasone normalized the chronic virus-induced airway obstruction and reduced the numbers of bronchiolar mast cells and other inflammatory cells. Resistance and dynamic compliance correlated significantly with bronchiolar mast cells but not with other airway inflammatory cell infiltrates. We conclude that the airway abnormalities that persist in rats after recovery from neonatal bronchiolitis are associated with increased numbers of bronchiolar mast cells and are largely due to corticosteroid-sensitive mechanisms.

Viral bronchiolitis during early life induces increased numbers of bronchiolar mast cells and airway hyperresponsiveness.

The objectives of this study were to determine the kinetics of Sendai virus-induced increases in bronchiolar mast cells and to determine whether virus-induced increases in bronchiolar mast cells were associated with increased airway responsiveness to methacholine and with altered allergic inflammatory responses to antigen stimulation. Mast cell density in intrapulmonary airways was measured in outbred CD (Crl:CDBR) rats by use of morphometric techniques at 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after viral or sham inoculation. Density of bronchiolar mast cells was higher in virus-inoculated rats than in control rats at 30, 60, and 90 days after inoculation (P less than 0.01), but not at 7 or 15 days after inoculation. Total pulmonary mast cell numbers were increased in virus-inoculated rats at 30 days after inoculation. Rats at 42 days after viral inoculation had over a threefold increase in sensitivity to the concentration of nebulized metbacholine that would stimulate a 50% increase in respiratory resistance. Virus-inoculated rats sensitized to ovalbumin had over a 10-fold increase (P less than 0.02) in pulmonary neutrophils that were recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage at 4 hours after ovalbumin aerosol challenge. Virus-inoculated rats at this time also had higher densities of neutrophils in bronchiolar walls than allergen-exposed control rats. The results indicate that Sendai virus induces increases in numbers of bronchiolar mast cells at times from 30 to 90 days after inoculation, and that mast cell increases are associated with airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and heightened allergic airway inflammatory reactions.

Neonatal viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia induces bronchiolar hypoplasia and alveolar dysplasia in rats.

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia on postnatal bronchiolar and alveolar growth. Neonatal (5-day-old) and weanling (25-day-old) outbred rats were infected with parainfluenza type 1 (Sendai) virus and were studied from 0 to 110 days after inoculation by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, by light microscopic morphometry, and by analysis of airway corrosion casts. Viral infection induced necrotizing bronchiolitis and interstitial pneumonia in both age groups of rats. Viral infection had a much more marked effect on neonatal rats in the proliferative stage of lung growth than on weanlings in the equilibrated stage of lung growth. Viral infection in neonatal rats resulted in delayed or impaired growth of secondary septa into alveolar saccules. The impaired septal ingrowth was multifocal and predominantly centriacinar in distribution and was associated with alveolar enlargement and significant decreases (14 to 26%, p less than 0.01) in alveolar surface density. Total alveolar surface area in rats inoculated with virus as neonates was 22% lower (p less than 0.05) that that in control animals by 110 days after inoculation. Alveolar septa in these rats inoculated as neonates had enlarged interalveolar pores and defects compatible with mild alveolar emphysema. Airway corrosion casts prepared at 30 and 90 days after neonatal viral inoculation had terminal bronchioles that were 11 and 20% smaller in diameter (p less than 0.02), respectively, than those from age-matched control rats. The density of attachments of alveolar septa to bronchiolar walls in viral-inoculated rats at these times was significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). Viral-infected rats had elevated respiratory resistance (p less than 0.005) and decreased dynamic compliance (p less than 0.02) at 39 days after inoculation. The results indicate that viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia during early life in rats induces abnormal alveolar development and bronchiolar hypoplasia that are associated with abnormalities in pulmonary function. Continued postnatal lung growth does not compensate for early virus-induced abnormalities in alveolar and bronchiolar growth.

Ventilatory responses to hypoxia nullify hypoxic tracheal constriction in awake dogs.

Three awake dogs with chronic tracheostomies were used to study the effects of hypoxia (12% O2) on tracheal smooth muscle tone. Pressure changes within a water-filled cuff in an isolated portion of the cervical trachea reflected changes in tracheal tone. During spontaneous ventilation, hypoxia produced hyperventilation, but no significant change in tracheal tone. If hypocapnia was prevented with inspired CO2 during hypoxia, one of three dogs increased tracheal tone, and all dogs increased ventilation beyond that measured with hypoxia alone. When the awake dogs were ventilated mechanically to prevent changes in ventilation, hypoxia always increased tracheal tone. We made independent changes in ventilation and CO2 similar to the spontaneous responses to hypoxia to test these effects on tracheal tone. When the dogs were ventilated mechanically first with 2% CO2, and then with no CO2, the resulting drop in end-tidal CO2 always decreased tone. When the tidal volume on the ventilator was increased under hyperoxic, isocapnic conditions, tracheal tone always decreased. We conclude that the normal ventilatory response to hypoxia opposes the bronchoconstrictor effect of hypoxia, resulting in no net change in tracheal smooth muscle tone.

Histamine-induced reflex tracheal constriction is attenuated by hyperoxia and exaggerated by hypoxia.

The effect of vagal reflexes on bronchomotor tone can be altered by their interaction with other bronchomotor factors, such as the prevailing state of oxygenation. In anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated dogs, a reflex constriction was induced in an isolated tracheal segment by administration of aerosolized histamine to the lungs. When the challenge was repeated during hypoxic conditions (PaO2, 45 mmHg), the magnitude of the reflex response was significantly larger than during normoxia. In contrast, during hyperoxia (PaO2, 344 mmHg), the response was significantly smaller than the normoxic response. The changes in the prevailing state of oxygenation were done under isocapnic and isohydric conditions. Hyperoxia alone had no effect upon baseline bronchomotor tone, whereas hypoxia caused an increase in baseline tone in approximately half the animals. The effect of hypoxia upon the reflex response to histamine was not affected by the baseline changes. We think that the potentiating effects of hypoxia and the attenuating effects of hyperoxia are mediated by an interaction between lung sensory receptors and carotid body chemoreceptors.