Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in young children and infants. There are no approved vaccines or effective antivirals. Alveolar macrophages are known to play an essential role in establishing and resolving the inflammatory response to infection. We have investigated the capacity for alveolar-like macrophages (ALM) generated from stem cells to protect against RSV infection and pathology. We initially established that ALMs are not productively infected by RSV, and co-incubations of ALMs and RSV led to a dose- and time-dependent reduction in viral titer. During in vivo studies, ALM groups were given an intra-tracheal instillation of ALMs prior to infection. Mice given ALMs prior to infection showed reduced weight loss, lower viral titers, and evidence of reduced lung inflammation and injury. These results suggest that ALMs currently being developed for lung disease therapies may be beneficial in protecting against RSV pathology.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Yuchen Cen
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3142012770