CYTOKINE RELEASE AND INNATE IMMUNITY IN RESPIRATORY VIRAL-INFECTION

Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are the two most important c auses of viral lower respiratory tract disease. The innate immune resp onse to these viruses, determined by multiple cell types, creates a cy tokine milieu that affects the adaptive immune response and disease ma nifestations. This review addresses the function of cytokines released from cells resident in the respiratory tract after infection with inf luenza and respiratory syncytial virus, and how differences in early c ytokine release may impact disease pathogenesis and host response.