Infection with influenza virus induces IL-33 in murine lungs

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Dec;45(6):1125-32. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2010-0516OC. Epub 2011 Jun 3.

Abstract

IL-33, a novel IL-1 family member, is crucially expressed and involved in pulmonary diseases, but its regulation in viral diseases such as influenza A virus (IAV) remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the expression and release of IL-33 in lungs of IAV-infected mice in vivo and in murine respiratory epithelial cells (MLE-15) in vitro. Our results provide evidence of up-regulation of IL-33 mRNA in IAV-infected murine lungs, compared with noninfected control mice. The overexpression of IL-33 was positively correlated with a significant increase in mRNA encoding the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6, and was also associated with an increase in IFN-β mRNA. A profound overexpression of IL-33 protein was evident in IAV-infected murine lungs and bronchoalveolar lavages of influenza-infected mice, compared with low concentrations in naive lungs in vivo. Immunolocalization highlighted the cellular expression of IL-33 in alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells, along with increased infiltrate cells in virus-infected lungs. Further in vitro experiments showed an induction of IL-33 transcript-in MLE-15 cells and human epithelial cells (A549) infected with different strains of IAV in comparison with noninfected cells. In conclusion, our findings evidenced a profound expression of IL-33 in lungs during both in vivo and in vitro IAV infections, suggesting a role for IL-33 in virus-induced lung infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / virology
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / metabolism
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / metabolism
  • Interferon-beta / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-beta / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-1beta / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis
  • Interleukins / immunology*
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / virology
  • Mice
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Il33 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-beta
  • Interferon-gamma