Properties and Therapeutic Efficacy of Broadly Reactive Chimeric and Humanized H5-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies against H5N1 Influenza Viruses

ABSTRACTHighly pathogenic H5N1 virus infection causes severe disease and a high rate of fatality in humans. Development of humanized monoclonal antibodies may provide an efficient therapeutic regime for H5N1 virus infection. In the present study, broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) derived from mice were humanized to minimize immunogenicity. One chimeric antibody (cAb) and seven humanized antibodies (hAbs) were constructed. These antibodies retained broad-spectrum reactivity to H5N1 viruses, binding to recombinant H5-subtype HA1 molecules expressed in CHO cells in a dose-dependent manner and exhibiting similar reactivities against antigenically distinct H5N1 viruses in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays. One humanized antibody, 37 hAb, showed HI and neutralization activities comparable to that of the parental murine antibody, 13D4 MAb, while the other six antibodies were less reactive to H5N1 viruses. Analysis of amino acid sequences in the variable region frameworks of the seven humanized antibodies found that Q5 and Y27 in the VH region are highly conserved murine residues. Comparison of the three-dimensional structures derived from the variable regions of MAbs 37 hAb, H1202-34, and 13D4 revealed that residue substitutions at sites 70 and 46 may be the major cause for the observed differences in binding affinity. Examination of the chimeric antibody and one of the humanized antibodies, 37 hAb, showed that both antibodies offered postinfection protection against lethal challenge with antigenically diverse H5N1 viruses in the mouse model. Chimeric and humanized antibodies which retain the broadly reactive and protective properties of murine H5-specific monoclonal antibodies have great potential for use in the treatment of human H5N1 infection.

Download Full-text

Glycine at Position 622 in PB1 Contributes to the Virulence of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Mice

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02387-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

pp. 1872-1879 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Xiaoxiao Feng ◽

Zeng Wang ◽

Jianzhong Shi ◽

Guohua Deng ◽

Huihui Kong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Aspartic Acid ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

Genetic Basis ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Avian Influenza Viruses ◽

Live Attenuated Vaccine ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

H5n1 Avian Influenza

ABSTRACTWe isolated two H5N1 viruses, A/duck/Hunan/S4020/2008 (DK/08) and A/chicken/Guangxi/S2039/2009 (CK/09), from live-bird markets during routine surveillance and found that these two viruses are genetically similar but differ in their replication and virulence in mice. The CK/09 virus is lethal for mice with a 50% mouse lethal dose (MLD50) of 1.6 log1050% egg infectious doses (EID50), whereas the DK/08 virus is nonpathogenic for mice with an MLD50value of 6.2 log10EID50. We explored the genetic basis of the virulence difference of these two viruses by generating a series of reassortant viruses and mutants in the lethal virus CK/09 background and evaluating their virulence in mice. We found that the PB1 gene of the DK/08 virus dramatically attenuated the virulence of the CK/09 virus and that the amino acid at position 622 in PB1 made an important contribution. We further demonstrated that the mutation of glycine (G) to aspartic acid (D) at position 622 in PB1 partially impaired the binding of PB1 to viral RNA, thereby dramatically decreasing the polymerase activity and attenuating H5N1 virus virulence in mice. Our results identify a novel virulence-related marker of H5N1 influenza viruses and provide a new target for live attenuated vaccine development.IMPORTANCEH5N1 avian influenza viruses have caused the deaths of nearly 60% of the humans that they have infected since 1997 and clearly represent a threat to public health. A thorough understanding of the genetic basis of virulence determinants will provide important insights for antiviral drug and live attenuated vaccine development. Several virulence-related markers in the PB2, PA, M1, and NS1 proteins of H5N1 viruses have been identified. In this study, we isolated two H5N1 avian influenza viruses that are genetically similar but differ in their virulence in mice, and we identified a new virulence-related marker in the PB1 gene. We found that the mutation of glycine (G) to aspartic acid (D) at position 622 in PB1 partially impairs the binding of PB1 to viral RNA, thereby attenuating H5N1 virus virulence in mice. This newly identified virulence-related marker could be applied to the development of live attenuated vaccines against H5N1 influenza.

Download Full-text

Broadly Inhibiting Antineuraminidase Monoclonal Antibodies Induced by Trivalent Influenza Vaccine and H7N9 Infection in Humans

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01182-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 94 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pramila Rijal ◽

Bei Bei Wang ◽

Tiong Kit Tan ◽

Lisa Schimanski ◽

Philipp Janesch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Time Window ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Human Mabs ◽

Human Antibodies ◽

Trivalent Influenza Vaccine ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

H7n9 Infection

ABSTRACT The majority of antibodies induced by influenza neuraminidase (NA), like those against hemagglutinin (HA), are relatively specific to viruses isolated within a limited time window, as seen in serological studies and the analysis of many murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We report three broadly reactive human MAbs targeting N1 NA. Two were isolated from a young adult vaccinated with trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV), which inhibited N1 NA from viruses isolated from humans over a period of a hundred years. The third antibody, isolated from a child with acute mild H7N9 infection, inhibited both group 1 N1 and group 2 N9 NAs. In addition, the antibodies cross-inhibited the N1 NAs of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses. These antibodies are protective in prophylaxis against seasonal H1N1 viruses in mice. This study demonstrates that human antibodies to N1 NA with exceptional cross-reactivity can be recalled by vaccination and highlights the importance of standardizing the NA antigen in seasonal vaccines to offer optimal protection. IMPORTANCE Antibodies to the influenza virus NA can provide protection against influenza disease. Analysis of human antibodies to NA lags behind that of antibodies to HA. We show that human monoclonal antibodies against NA induced by vaccination and infection can be very broadly reactive, with the ability to inhibit a wide spectrum of N1 NAs on viruses isolated between 1918 and 2018. This suggests that antibodies to NA may be a useful therapy and that the efficacy of influenza vaccines could be enhanced by ensuring the appropriate content of NA antigen.

Download Full-text

Cross-Reactive, Cell-Mediated Immunity and Protection of Chickens from Lethal H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Hong Kong Poultry Markets

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.75.6.2516-2525.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 75 (6) ◽

pp. 2516-2525 ◽

Cited By ~ 161

Author(s):

Sang Heui Seo ◽

Robert G. Webster

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Cellular Immunity ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

H5n1 Influenza Virus ◽

H9n2 Influenza Virus ◽

H5n1 Influenza

ABSTRACT In 1997, avian H5N1 influenza virus transmitted from chickens to humans resulted in 18 confirmed infections. Despite harboring lethal H5N1 influenza viruses, most chickens in the Hong Kong poultry markets showed no disease signs. At this time, H9N2 influenza viruses were cocirculating in the markets. We investigated the role of H9N2 influenza viruses in protecting chickens from lethal H5N1 influenza virus infections. Sera from chickens infected with an H9N2 influenza virus did not cross-react with an H5N1 influenza virus in neutralization or hemagglutination inhibition assays. Most chickens primed with an H9N2 influenza virus 3 to 70 days earlier survived the lethal challenge of an H5N1 influenza virus, but infected birds shed H5N1 influenza virus in their feces. Adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes or CD8+ T cells from inbred chickens (B2/B2) infected with an H9N2 influenza virus to naive inbred chickens (B2/B2) protected them from lethal H5N1 influenza virus. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that T lymphocytes or CD8+ T cells from chickens infected with an H9N2 influenza virus recognized target cells infected with either an H5N1 or H9N2 influenza virus in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that cross-reactive cellular immunity induced by H9N2 influenza viruses protected chickens from lethal infection with H5N1 influenza viruses in the Hong Kong markets in 1997 but permitted virus shedding in the feces. Our findings are the first to suggest that cross-reactive cellular immunity can change the outcome of avian influenza virus infection in birds in live markets and create a situation for the perpetuation of H5N1 influenza viruses.

Download Full-text

An Antibody against a Novel and Conserved Epitope in the Hemagglutinin 1 Subunit Neutralizes Numerous H5N1 Influenza Viruses

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02593-09 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (16) ◽

pp. 8275-8286 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Hsueh-Ling Janice Oh ◽

Sara Åkerström ◽

Shuo Shen ◽

Sándor Bereczky ◽

Helen Karlberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Neutralization Titer ◽

H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Homologous Strain ◽

Clade 1 ◽

Conserved Epitope

ABSTRACT The spread of the recently emerged, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus has raised concern. Preclinical studies suggest that passive immunotherapy could be a new form of treatment for H5N1 virus infection. Here, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the hemagglutinin (HA) of the influenza A/chicken/Hatay/2004 H5N1 virus, MAb 9F4, was generated and characterized. MAb 9F4 binds both the denatured and native forms of HA. It was shown to recognize the HA proteins of three heterologous strains of H5N1 viruses belonging to clades 1, 2.1, and 2.2, respectively. By use of lentiviral pseudotyped particles carrying HA on the surface, MAb 9F4 was shown to effectively neutralize the homologous strain, Hatay04, and another clade 1 strain, VN04, at a neutralization titer of 8 ng/ml. Furthermore, MAb 9F4 also neutralized two clade 2 viruses at a neutralizing titer of 40 ng/ml. The broad cross-neutralizing activity of MAb 9F4 was confirmed by its ability to neutralize live H5N1 viruses of clade 2.2.2. Epitope-mapping analysis revealed that MAb 9F4 binds a previously uncharacterized epitope below the globular head of the HA1 subunit. Consistently, this epitope is well conserved among the different clades of H5N1 viruses. MAb 9F4 does not block the interaction between HA and its receptor but prevents the pH-mediated conformational change of HA. MAb 9F4 was also found to be protective, both prophylactically and therapeutically, against a lethal viral challenge of mice. Taken together, our results showed that MAb 9F4 is a neutralizing MAb that binds a novel and well-conserved epitope in the HA1 subunit of H5N1 viruses.

Download Full-text

Tropism and Infectivity of a Seasonal A(H1N1) and a Highly Pathogenic Avian A(H5N1) Influenza Virus in Primary Differentiated Ferret Nasal Epithelial Cell Cultures

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00080-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hui Zeng ◽

Cynthia S. Goldsmith ◽

Amrita Kumar ◽

Jessica A. Belser ◽

Xiangjie Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Virus Infection ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

H1n1 Virus ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Host Interactions ◽

Culture Model

ABSTRACTFerrets represent an invaluable animal model to study influenza virus pathogenesis and transmission. To further characterize this model, we developed a differentiated primary ferret nasal epithelial cell (FNEC) culture model for investigation of influenza A virus infection and virus-host interactions. This well-differentiated culture consists of various cell types, a mucociliary clearance system, and tight junctions, representing the nasal ciliated pseudostratified respiratory epithelium. Both α2,6-linked and α2,3-linked sialic acid (SA) receptors, which preferentially bind the hemagglutinin (HA) of human and avian influenza viruses, respectively, were detected on the apical surface of the culture with different cellular tropisms. In accordance with the distribution of SA receptors, we observed that a pre-2009 seasonal A(H1N1) virus infected both ciliated and nonciliated cells, whereas a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus primarily infected nonciliated cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that virions were released from or associated with the apical membranes of ciliated, nonciliated, and mucin-secretory goblet cells. Upon infection, the HPAI A(H5N1) virus replicated to titers higher than those of the human A(H1N1) virus at 37°C; however, replication of the A(H5N1) virus was significantly attenuated at 33°C. Furthermore, we found that infection with the A(H5N1) virus induced higher expression levels of immune mediator genes and resulted in more cell damage/loss than with the human A(H1N1) virus. This primary differentiated FNEC culture model, recapitulating the structure of the nasal epithelium, provides a useful model to bridgein vivoandin vitrostudies of cellular tropism, infectivity, and pathogenesis of influenza viruses during the initial stages of infection.IMPORTANCEAlthough ferrets serve as an important model of influenza virus infection, much remains unknown about virus-host interactions in this species at the cellular level. The development of differentiated primary cultures of ferret nasal epithelial cells is an important step toward understanding cellular tropism and the mechanisms of influenza virus infection and replication in the airway milieu of this model. Using lectin staining and microscopy techniques, we characterized the sialic acid receptor distribution and the cellular composition of the culture model. We then evaluated the replication of and immune response to human and avian influenza viruses at relevant physiological temperatures. Our findings offer significant insight into this first line of defense against influenza virus infection and provide a model for the evaluation of emerging influenza viruses in a well-controlledin vitroenvironmental setting.

Download Full-text

Cross-Protection of Influenza A Virus Infection by a DNA Aptamer Targeting the PA Endonuclease Domain

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00306-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 59 (7) ◽

pp. 4082-4093 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Shuofeng Yuan ◽

Naru Zhang ◽

Kailash Singh ◽

Huiping Shuai ◽

Hin Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Cross Protection ◽

Dna Aptamer ◽

Endonuclease Activity ◽

Endonuclease Domain

ABSTRACTAmino acid residues in the N-terminal of the PA subunit (PAN) of the influenza A virus polymerase play critical roles in endonuclease activity, protein stability, and viral RNA (vRNA) promoter binding. In addition, PANis highly conserved among different subtypes of influenza virus, which suggests PANto be a desired target in the development of anti-influenza agents. We selected DNA aptamers targeting the intact PA protein or the PANdomain of an H5N1 virus strain using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The binding affinities of selected aptamers were measured, followed by an evaluation ofin vitroendonuclease inhibitory activity. Next, the antiviral effects of enriched aptamers against influenza A virus infections were examined. A total of three aptamers targeting PA and six aptamers targeting PANwere selected. Our data demonstrated that all three PA-selected aptamers neither inhibited endonuclease activity nor exhibited antiviral efficacy, whereas four of the six PAN-selected aptamers inhibited both endonuclease activity and H5N1 virus infection. Among the four effective aptamers, one exhibited cross-protection against infections of H1N1, H5N1, H7N7, and H7N9 influenza viruses, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of around 10 nM. Notably, this aptamer was identified at the 5th round but disappeared after the 10th round of selection, suggesting that the identification and evaluation of aptamers at early rounds of selection may be highly helpful for screening effective aptamers. Overall, our study provides novel insights for screening and developing effective aptamers for use as anti-influenza drugs.

Download Full-text

High Level of Genetic Compatibility between Swine-Origin H1N1 and Highly Pathogenic Avian H5N1 Influenza Viruses

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01140-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 84 (20) ◽

pp. 10918-10922 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Cássio Pontes Octaviani ◽

Makoto Ozawa ◽

Shinya Yamada ◽

Hideo Goto ◽

Yoshihiro Kawaoka

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

Human Lung ◽

Cultured Cells ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Compatibility Studies ◽

Genetic Compatibility ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

High Level

Reassortment is an important mechanism for the evolution of influenza viruses. Here, we coinfected cultured cells with the pandemic swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) and a contemporary H5N1 virus and found that these two viruses have high genetic compatibility. Studies of human lung cell lines indicated that some reassortants had better growth kinetics than their parental viruses. We conclude that reassortment between these two viruses can occur and could create pandemic H5N1 viruses.

Download Full-text

Molecular Evolution of H6 Influenza Viruses from Poultry in Southeastern China: Prevalence of H6N1 Influenza Viruses Possessing Seven A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1)-Like Genes in Poultry

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.76.2.507-516.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 507-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 127

Author(s):

P. S. Chin ◽

E. Hoffmann ◽

R. Webby ◽

R. G. Webster ◽

Y. Guan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Hong Kong ◽

H5n1 Virus ◽

Influenza Pandemic ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Evolutionary Analysis ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Species Barrier ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

Pathogenic H5n1

ABSTRACT The A/teal/Hong Kong/W312/97 (H6N1) influenza virus and the human H5N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses possess similar genes encoding internal proteins, suggesting that H6N1 viruses could become novel human pathogens. The molecular epidemiology and evolution of H6 influenza viruses were characterized by antigenic and genetic analyses of 29 H6 influenza viruses isolated from 1975 to 1981 and 1997 to 2000. Two distinct groups were identified on the basis of their antigenic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all H6N1 viruses isolated from terrestrial poultry in 1999 and 2000 are closely related to A/teal/Hong Kong/W312/97 (H6N1), and the nucleotide sequences of these viruses and of A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1) were more than 96% homologous. The hemagglutinin (HA) of the 1999 and 2000 terrestrial viruses does not have multiple basic amino acids at the site of cleavage of HA1 to HA2; however, a unique insertion of aspartic acid in HA1 between positions 144 and 145 (H3 numbering) was found. The neuraminidase of these terrestrial H6N1 viruses has a deletion of 19 amino acids characteristic of A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1). Evolutionary analysis suggested that these H6N1 viruses coevolved with A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97-like H9N2 viruses and became more adapted to terrestrial poultry. These terrestrial 1999 and 2000 A/teal/Hong Kong/W312/97 (H6N1)-like viruses, along with the H9N2 viruses, could have been involved in the genesis of the pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses of 1997. The presence of H6N1 viruses in poultry markets in Hong Kong that possess seven of the eight genes of the A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1) virus raises the following fundamental questions relevant to influenza pandemic preparedness: could the pathogenic H5N1 virus reemerge and could the H6N1 viruses directly cross the species barrier to mammals?

Download Full-text

Broadly Neutralizing Anti-Influenza Virus Antibodies: Enhancement of Neutralizing Potency in Polyclonal Mixtures and IgA Backbones

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.03099-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (7) ◽

pp. 3610-3618 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Wenqian He ◽

Caitlin E. Mullarkey ◽

J. Andrew Duty ◽

Thomas M. Moran ◽

Peter Palese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Virus Vaccine ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Influenza A ◽

Human Peripheral Blood ◽

Influenza Virus Vaccine ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Variable Regions

ABSTRACTCurrent influenza virus vaccines rely upon the accurate prediction of circulating virus strains months in advance of the actual influenza season in order to allow time for vaccine manufacture. Unfortunately, mismatches occur frequently, and even when perfect matches are achieved, suboptimal vaccine efficacy leaves several high-risk populations vulnerable to infection. However, the recent discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that target the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk domain has renewed hope that the development of “universal” influenza virus vaccines may be within reach. Here, we examine the functions of influenza A virus hemagglutinin stalk-binding antibodies in an endogenous setting, i.e., as polyclonal preparations isolated from human sera. Relative to monoclonal antibodies that bind to the HA head domain, the neutralization potency of monoclonal stalk-binding antibodies was vastly inferiorin vitrobut was enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the polyclonal context. Furthermore, we demonstrated a surprising enhancement in IgA-mediated HA stalk neutralization relative to that achieved by antibodies of IgG isotypes. Mechanistically, this could be explained in two ways. Identical variable regions consistently neutralized virus more potently when in an IgA backbone compared to an IgG backbone. In addition, HA-specific memory B cells isolated from human peripheral blood were more likely to be stalk specific when secreting antibodies of IgA isotypes compared to those secreting IgG. Taken together, our data provide strong evidence that HA stalk-binding antibodies perform optimally when in a polyclonal context and that the targeted elicitation of HA stalk-specific IgA should be an important consideration during “universal” influenza virus vaccine design.IMPORTANCEInfluenza viruses remain one of the most worrisome global public health threats due to their capacity to cause pandemics. While seasonal vaccines fail to protect against the emergence of pandemic strains, a new class of broadly neutralizing antibodies has been recently discovered and may be the key to developing a “universal” influenza virus vaccine. While much has been learned about the biology of these antibodies, most studies have focused only on monoclonal antibodies of IgG subtypes. However, the study of monoclonal antibodies often fails to capture the complexity of antibody functions that occur during natural polyclonal responses. Here, we provide the first detailed analyses of the biological activity of these antibodies in polyclonal contexts, comparing both IgG and IgA isotypes isolated from human donors. The striking differences observed in the functional properties of broadly neutralizing antibodies in polyclonal contexts will be essential for guiding design of “universal” influenza virus vaccines and therapeutics.

Download Full-text

Host DNA released by NETosis in neutrophils exposed to seasonal H1N1 and highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses

10.21203/rs.2.24164/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Louisa L.Y. Chan ◽

John M. Nicholls ◽

J.S. Malik Peiris ◽

Yu Lung Lau ◽

Michael C.W. Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Virus Infection ◽

H1n1 Virus ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Alveolar Epithelium ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

H5n1 Influenza Virus ◽

H5n1 Influenza ◽

Influenza H1n1

Abstract Background Neutrophil (Nϕ) is of the most abundant number in human immune system. During acute influenza virus infection, Nϕs are already active in the early phase of inflammation-a time in which clinical biopsy or autopsy material is not readily available. However, the role of Nϕ in virus infection is not well understood. Here, we studied the role of Nϕ in host defense during influenza A virus infection, specifically assessing if it contributes to the differential pathogenesis in H5N1 disease. Methods Nϕs were freshly isolated from healthy volunteers and subjected to direct influenza H1N1 and H5N1 virus infection in vitro . The ability of the naïve Nϕs to infiltrate from the basolateral to the apical phase of the influenza virus infected alveolar epithelium was assessed. The viral replication, innate immune responses and Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation of Nϕs upon influenza virus infection were evaluated. Results Our results demonstrated that influenza virus infected alveolar epithelium allowed more Nϕs transmigration. Significantly more Nϕs migrated across the H5N1 influenza virus infected the epithelium than the counterpart infected by the seasonal influenza H1N1 virus infected. Nϕs were equally susceptible to H5N1 and H1N1 virus infection with similar viral gene transcription. Productive replication was observed in H5N1 infected Nϕs. Both H5N1 and H1N1 infected Nϕs induced cytokines and chemokines including TNF-α, IFN-β, CXCL10, MIP-1α and IL-8. This inferred a more intense inflammatory response posed by H5N1 than H1N1 virus. Strikingly, NADPH oxidase-independent NET formation was observed in H1N1 infected Nϕs at 6 hpi while no NET formation was observed upon H5N1 infection. Conclusion Our data is the first to demonstrate that NET formation is abrogated in H5N1 influenza virus infection. Its contribution to the differential severity of H5N1 disease requires further investigation.

Download Full-text