Abstract
Purpose
Interleukin (IL)-33, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, is considered to be important for innate-type mucosal immunity of the lung and also has been suggested to induce Th2-type immune responses. We aimed to investigate if IL-33 is involved in airway inflammation due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children.
Methods
Thirty-eight infants (≤24 months of age) admitted with their first episode of RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled in the study. Atopy was defined by having at least 1 allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), positive result to skin prick test, or high serum IgE levels. The patients were assessed to have severe symptoms when they had ≥2 of the following clinical findings: hypoxemia (<92% oxygen saturation), rapid breathing (and/or lower chest wall indrawing), and >7 days of hospital stay. The levels of IL-33 and the IL-33 receptor (sST2) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in nasal secretion samples collected from the patients on admission and compared with 20 age-matched controls. We also investigated the levels of IL-33 and sST2 in relation to the atopic status and symptom severity of the patients.
Figures and Tables
![]() | Fig. 1Interleukin (IL)-33 levels in nasal secretion of the patients with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis were significantly increased compared to the control levels. |
![]() | Fig. 2Interleukin (IL)-33 receptor (sST2) levels showed no significant difference between the patients with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and controls. |
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