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RSV-encoded NS2 promotes epithelial cell shedding and distal airway obstruction
Rachael M. Liesman, … , Peter L. Collins, Raymond J. Pickles
Rachael M. Liesman, … , Peter L. Collins, Raymond J. Pickles
Published April 8, 2014
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2014;124(5):2219-2233. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI72948.
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Research Article Virology Article has an altmetric score of 77

RSV-encoded NS2 promotes epithelial cell shedding and distal airway obstruction

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Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the major cause of bronchiolitis in young children. The factors that contribute to the increased propensity of RSV-induced distal airway disease compared with other commonly encountered respiratory viruses remain unclear. Here, we identified the RSV-encoded nonstructural 2 (NS2) protein as a viral genetic determinant for initiating RSV-induced distal airway obstruction. Infection of human cartilaginous airway epithelium (HAE) and a hamster model of disease with recombinant respiratory viruses revealed that NS2 promotes shedding of infected epithelial cells, resulting in two consequences of virus infection. First, epithelial cell shedding accelerated the reduction of virus titers, presumably by clearing virus-infected cells from airway mucosa. Second, epithelial cells shedding into the narrow-diameter bronchiolar airway lumens resulted in rapid accumulation of detached, pleomorphic epithelial cells, leading to acute distal airway obstruction. Together, these data indicate that RSV infection of the airway epithelium, via the action of NS2, promotes epithelial cell shedding, which not only accelerates viral clearance but also contributes to acute obstruction of the distal airways. Our results identify RSV NS2 as a contributing factor for the enhanced propensity of RSV to cause severe airway disease in young children and suggest NS2 as a potential therapeutic target for reducing the severity of distal airway disease.

Authors

Rachael M. Liesman, Ursula J. Buchholz, Cindy L. Luongo, Lijuan Yang, Alan D. Proia, John P. DeVincenzo, Peter L. Collins, Raymond J. Pickles

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Figure 5

Expression of RSV NS2 in ciliated cells using PIV3 results in infected cell rounding.

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Expression of RSV NS2 in ciliated cells using PIV3 results in infected c...
(A) Growth kinetics of recombinant PIV3 (white circles) and PIV3 expressing either RSV NS1 (PIV3-NS1, black squares), NS2 (PIV3-NS2, white triangles) or both NS1 and NS2 (PIV3-NS1/2, black triangles) in HAE. All viruses expressed GFP. Virus titers in apical washes were assessed at 24-hour intervals. Data (mean ± SEM) represent 4 cultures per donor with cultures from 3 different donors. (B) Representative images of histologic cross-sections of HAE infected with PIV3, PIV3-NS1, PIV3-NS2, or PIV3-NS1/2. Infected cells were detected with an anti-PIV3 antibody. Scale bar: 10 μm. (C) Height of infected cells (mean ± SD) was determined as described in Figure 4. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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