Enhanced surfactant protein and defensin mRNA levels and reduced viral replication during parainfluenza virus type 3 pneumonia in neonatal lambs

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2004 May;11(3):599-607. doi: 10.1128/CDLI.11.3.599-607.2004.

Abstract

Defensins and surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-D are antimicrobial components of the pulmonary innate immune system. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which parainfluenza type 3 virus infection in neonatal lambs alters expression of sheep beta-defensin 1 (SBD-1), SP-A, and SP-D, all of which are constitutively transcribed by respiratory epithelia. Parainfluenza type 3 viral antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the bronchioles of all infected lambs 3 days postinoculation and at diminished levels 6 days postinoculation, but it was absent 17 days postinoculation. At all times postinoculation, lung homogenates from parainfluenza type 3 virus-inoculated animals had increased SBD-1, SP-A, and SP-D mRNA levels as detected by fluorogenic real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Protein levels of SP-A in lung homogenates detected by quantitative-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and protein antigen of SP-A detected by IHC were not altered. These studies demonstrate that parainfluenza type 3 virus infection results in enhanced expression of constitutively transcribed innate immune factors expressed by respiratory epithelia and that this increased expression occurs concurrently with decreased viral replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Body Temperature
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epithelial Cells / chemistry
  • Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung / chemistry
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / virology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / chemistry
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / virology
  • Male
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / genetics
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Pneumonia / genetics
  • Pneumonia / immunology*
  • Pneumonia / veterinary
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / genetics*
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Respirovirus / chemistry
  • Respirovirus / growth & development
  • Respirovirus / immunology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / genetics
  • Sheep Diseases / immunology
  • Sheep Diseases / virology
  • Virus Replication*
  • beta-Defensins / genetics*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D
  • RNA, Messenger
  • beta-Defensins