Effect of lack of Interleukin‐4, Interleukin‐12, Interleukin‐18, or the Interferon‐γ receptor on virus replication, cytokine response, and lung pathology during respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice

RSV is an important cause of bronchiolitis in infants. Immunopathology may play a role in RSV‐induced bronchiolitis and severe RSV‐induced disease has been associated with a Th2 type immune response. The aim of the study was to identify cytokine pathways that are crucial in influencing RSV‐induced disease. For that purpose we inoculated IFNγR −/− , IL‐12 −/− , IL‐18 −/− , or IL‐4 −/− mice with RSV. We observed that an RSV infection resulted in a predominant Th1 cytokine response associated with slight bronchiolitis and alveolitis. Pulmonary histopathology was only aggravated in IFN R −/− mice, characterised by eosinophilic influx around the bronchioles. Despite subtle changes in cytokine expression, no differences in histopathology were observed in IL‐12 −/− and IL‐18 −/− mice. Deficiency of IL‐4 has no effect on RSV‐induced Th1 cytokines and pulmonary histopathology. IFNγ‐receptor deficiency during primary RSV infection resulted in a disturbed Th1 response based on increased IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 expression and the presence of eosinophils in the lungs. It is concluded that IFNγ signalling is required for a pronounced Th1 response to RSV while IL‐12 and IL‐18 are not. A shift in the balance between Th1 and Th2 towards a Th2 response induced by missing IFNγ signalling leads to aggravated pulmonary pathology. This is not caused by enhanced viral load. J. Med. Virol. 66:552–560, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.