Nasal Cathelicidin is Expressed in Early Life and is Increased During Mild, but Not Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2024 Jun 17

PMID 38886476

Authors

Sofia Sintoris

Justyna M Binkowska

Jonathan L Gillan

Roy P Zuurbier

Jonathan Twynam-Perkins

Maartje Kristensen

Lauren Melrose

Paula Lusaretta Parga

Alicia Ruiz Rodriguez

Mei Ling Chu

Sara R van Boeckel

Joanne G Wildenbeest

Dawn M E Bowdish

Andrew J Currie

Ryan S Thwaites

Jurgen Schwarze

Marlies A van Houten

James P Boardman

Steve Cunningham

Debby Bogaert

Donald J Davidson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus is the major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in young children, causing extensive mortality and morbidity globally, with limited therapeutic or preventative options. Cathelicidins are innate immune antimicrobial host defence peptides and have antiviral activity against RSV. However, upper respiratory tract cathelicidin expression and the relationship with host and environment factors in early life, are unknown. Infant cohorts were analysed to characterise early life nasal cathelicidin levels, revealing low expression levels in the first week of life, with increased levels at 9 months which are comparable to 2-year-olds and healthy adults. No impact of prematurity on nasal cathelicidin expression was observed, nor were there effects of sex or birth mode, however, nasal cathelicidin expression was lower in the first week-of-life in winter births. Nasal cathelicidin levels were positively associated with specific inflammatory markers and demonstrated to be associated with microbial community composition. Importantly, levels of nasal cathelicidin expression were elevated in infants with mild RSV infection, but, in contrast, were not upregulated in infants hospitalised with severe RSV infection. These data suggest important relationships between nasal cathelicidin, upper airway microbiota, inflammation, and immunity against RSV infection, with interventional potential.

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