Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) induces production of IFNγ and RANTES in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs)

Background: Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3), while infecting lower airway epithelial cells induces pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and children, and may lead to asthma exacerbations in children and adults. Respiratory viruses invading the airway epithelium activate innate immune response and induce inflammatory cytokine release contributing to the pathophysiology of upper and lower airway disorders. However, the effects of HPIV3 infection on nasal epithelial cells have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the HPIV3 infection on cultured human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and the release of interferon gamma and other cytokines. Methods: RPMI 2650, a human nasal epithelial cell line was cultured into confluence and was infected with HPIV3 (MOI of 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001). The protein release into supernatants and mRNA expression of selected cytokines were assessed 24, 48 and 72 h after infection. Cytokine concentrations in supernatants were measured by ELISA and expression of cytokine mRNA in RPMI 2650 cells confirmed by real time RT-PCR analysis. Results: HNECs infection with HPIV3 did not induce cytotoxicity for at least 48 hours, but significantly increased IFN-gamma protein concentration in the cell supernatants at 24 h and 48 h post infection (by 387% and 485% respectively as compared to mock infected cells). At 24 h a significant increase in expression of mRNA for IFN gamma was observed. RANTES protein concentration and mRNA expression were significantly increased at 72 h after infection (mean protein concentration: 3.5 +/- 1.4 pg/mL for 0.001 MOI, 10.8 +/- 4.6 pg/mL for 0.01 MOI and 61.5 +/- 18.4 pg/mL for 0.1 MOI as compared to 2.4 +/- 1.3 pg/mL for uninfected cells). No measurable concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-10, TSLP, IL-8, GM-CSF or eotaxin, were detected in virus infected cells supernatants. Conclusions: HPIV3 effectively infects upper airway epithelial cells and the infection is associated with induction of IFN-gamma and generation of RANTES.