Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a known risk factor for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, yet the mechanisms of ETS/RSV comorbidity are largely unknown. Cystathionine γ-lyase regulates important physiological functions of the respiratory tract.Methods
We used mice genetically deficient in the cystathionine γ-lyase enzyme (CSE), the major H2S-generating enzyme in the lung to determine the contribution of H2S to airway disease in response to side-stream tobacco smoke (TS), and to TS/RSV co-exposure.Results
Following a 2-week period of exposure to TS, CSE-deficient mice (KO) showed a dramatic increase in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine challenge, and greater airway cellular inflammation, compared with wild-type (WT) mice. TS-exposed CSE KO mice that were subsequently infected with RSV exhibited a more severe clinical disease, airway obstruction and AHR, enhanced viral replication, and lung inflammation, compared with TS-exposed RSV-infected WT mice. TS-exposed RSV-infected CSE KO mice had also a significant increase in the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.Conclusion
This study demonstrates the critical contribution of the H2S-generating pathway to airway reactivity and disease following exposure to ETS alone or in combination with RSV infection.
SUBMITTER: Ivanciuc T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6594876 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ivanciuc Teodora T Sbrana Elena E Casola Antonella A Garofalo Roberto P RP
Pediatric research 20190415 1
<h4>Background</h4>Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a known risk factor for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, yet the mechanisms of ETS/RSV comorbidity are largely unknown. Cystathionine γ-lyase regulates important physiological functions of the respiratory tract.<h4>Methods</h4>We used mice genetically deficient in the cystathionine γ-lyase enzyme (CSE), the major H<sub>2</sub>S-generating enzyme in the lung to determine the contribution of H<sub>2</sub>S to airway diseas ...[more]