Abstract
The local cellular response during rhinovirus infection was studied with immunohistochemical staining of lymphocyte subpopulations in the lamina propria of the nasal mucosa (inferior turbinate) in 25 biopsies from volunteers with experimental rhinovirus colds and compared with biopsies from healthy volunteers. Biopsies from rhinovirus infected volunteers, taken either in the early phase of the infection (days 3 and 5) or during convalescence (day 14) were evaluated in a semiquantitative fashion for degree of infiltration. Lymphocyte subpopulations also were counted on coded specimens.
During experimental rhinovirus infection, no change could be observed in the overall degree of lymphocytic infiltration or in the numbers of T and B lymphocytes compared with control specimens. The overall degree of lymphocyte infiltration in the nasal mucosa was mild to moderate and consisted principally of T lymphocytes and only a few scattered B lymphocytes. Few natural killer lymphocytes were seen. These findings are similar to those in normal nasal mucosa and in contrast to the findings after topical application of recombinant interferon, which often results in a heavy lymphocyte infiltration. Lymphocyte subpopulation in the peripheral blood did not change when compared with prechallenge values in nine rhinovirus-infected volunteers.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.