Nox1 oxidase suppresses influenza a virus-induced lung inflammation and oxidative stress

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60792. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060792. Epub 2013 Apr 8.

Abstract

Influenza A virus infection is an ongoing clinical problem and thus, there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms that regulate the lung inflammation in order to unravel novel generic pharmacological strategies. Evidence indicates that the Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase enzyme promotes influenza A virus-induced lung oxidative stress, inflammation and dysfunction via ROS generation. In addition, lung epithelial and endothelial cells express the Nox1 isoform of NADPH oxidase, placing this enzyme at key sites to regulate influenza A virus-induced lung inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Nox1 oxidase regulates the inflammatory response and the oxidative stress to influenza infection in vivo in mice. Male WT and Nox1-deficient (Nox1(-/y)) mice were infected with the moderately pathogenic HkX-31 (H3N2, 1×10(4) PFU) influenza A virus for analysis of bodyweight, airways inflammation, oxidative stress, viral titre, lung histopathology, and cytokine/chemokine expression at 3 and 7 days post infection. HkX-31 virus infection of Nox1(-/y) mice resulted in significantly greater: loss of bodyweight (Day 3); BALF neutrophilia, peri-bronchial, peri-vascular and alveolar inflammation; Nox2-dependent inflammatory cell ROS production and peri-bronchial, epithelial and endothelial oxidative stress. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including CCL2, CCL3, CXCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, GM-CSF and TNF-α was higher in Nox1(-/y) lungs compared to WT mice at Day 3, however, the expression of CCL2, CCL3, CXCL2, IFN-γ and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were lower in lungs of Nox1(-/y) mice vs. WT mice at Day 7. Lung viral titre, and airways infiltration of active CD8(+) and CD4(+) T lymphocytes, and of Tregs were similar between WT and Nox1(-/y) mice. In conclusion, Nox1 oxidase suppresses influenza A virus induced lung inflammation and oxidative stress in mice particularly at the early phases of the infection. Nox1 and Nox2 oxidases appear to have opposing roles in the regulation of inflammation caused by influenza A viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / virology
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • Inflammation / enzymology
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Influenza A virus / physiology*
  • Lung / enzymology*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / virology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / deficiency
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Peroxynitrous Acid / biosynthesis
  • Peroxynitrous Acid / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • Superoxides
  • Peroxynitrous Acid
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • NADPH Oxidase 1
  • NOX1 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC; nhmrc.gov.au) for Fellowship and Project Grant Support (I.D. 606472, 1006017, 545942, 570861, 606488, 1010984 and 509226) and the Australian Research Council (arc.gov.au) for Fellowship support (I.D. FT120100876). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.