Induction of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 in human nasal epithelial cells during respiratory syncytial virus infection

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Abstract
The effects of infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 was determined in vitro in nasal epithelial cell cultures. Functional consequences of changes in ICAM‐1 expression were assessed by measuring adhesion of a human leukaemic T‐cell line to RSV‐infected epithelial cells. Also, adhesion of phytohaemagglutinin‐activated tonsillar lymphocytes (TL) to RSV‐infected epithelial cells caused a significant increase in interleukin (IL)‐4 or IL‐5 production. Release of these cytokines was adhesion dependent as non‐adherent TL produced significantly less IL‐4 or IL‐5. However, no significant difference was observed for IL‐2 or interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) production. These observations suggest that RSV‐infected epithelial cells may induce T‐helper type‐2 (Th2)‐like cytokines by mucosal lymphocytes during mucosal infection in vivo