Nasal epithelial cells to assess in vitro immune responses to respiratory virus infection in pregnant women with asthma

Respir Res. 2019 Nov 20;20(1):259. doi: 10.1186/s12931-019-1225-5.

Abstract

Respiratory virus-induced asthma exacerbations occur frequently during pregnancy and are associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child. Primary nasal epithelial cells (pNECs) provide a useful method to study immune responses in pregnancy. pNECs were obtained by nasal brushings from pregnant and non-pregnant women with and without asthma. pNECS were infected in vitro with major group Rhinovirus 43 (RV43) and seasonal influenza (H3N2). Following infection, pNECs showed measurable quantities of interferon (IFN)-λ, IL-1β, IL-8, IP-10 and MIP1-α. pNECs provide a safe and effective method for studying respiratory epithelial cell responses during pregnancy.

Keywords: Asthma; In vitro cultures; Influenza; Nasal cells; Pregnancy; Respiratory infections; Rhinovirus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Nasal Mucosa / cytology
  • Nasal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Nasal Mucosa / virology
  • Picornaviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Picornaviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Picornaviridae Infections / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rhinovirus / isolation & purification*