Ge. Hancock et al., Adaptive immune responses of patients with asthma to the attachment (G) glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus, J INFEC DIS, 184(12), 2001, pp. 1589-1593
A history of acute bronchiolitis in infancy caused by respiratory syncytial
virus is a risk factor for recurrent wheezing in early childhood. Because
the attachment (G) protein sensitizes mice for pulmonary eosinophilia and b
ecause Th2 cells are central in the pathogenesis of asthma, plasma and peri
pheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from donors with asthma and from heal
thy donors were evaluated for anti-G protein responses. A significant trend
connecting severity of asthma with anti-G protein IgG1 and IgG2 titers was
observed. The correlation between anti-F protein IgG3 titers and asthma se
verity approached significance. Peptide mapping studies revealed that more
positive recall responses (interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 secretion) o
ccurred after PBMC from donors with asthma were stimulated with peptides re
presenting the nonglycosylated domain of G protein. The same peptides elici
ted more positive recall responses (proliferation and interferon-gamma secr
etion) in the PBMC of healthy donors. These data suggest that a mechanism m
ay exist whereby adaptive immune responses against G protein contribute to
wheezing.