Abstract
Human rhinovirus (RV) is the most common cause of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and chronic airway disease exacerbation. Cough is present in 50–80% of URTI cases, accompanied by heightened airway hypersensitivity, yet no effective treatment currently exists for this infectious cough. The mechanism by which RV causes cough and airway hypersensitivity in URTI is still unknown despite recent advances in potential therapies for chronic cough.
The effect of RV-16 infection (MOI 1) on intracellular ATP stores and ATP release in A549 alveolar epithelial cells was measured.
RV-16 infection was found to significantly increase (by 50% from basal at 24 h) followed by decrease (by 50% from basal at 48 and 72 h) intracellular ATP concentrations, while increasing ATP release (from 72 h) independently of secondary stimulation. This effect was mimicked by intercellular adhesion molecule 1 receptor binding alone through ultraviolet-inactivated sham control. In addition, RV-16-infected cells became more sensitive to secondary stimulation with both hypotonic and isotonic solutions, suggestive of a hypersensitive response. These responses were not mediated via increased TRPV4 or pannexin-1 whole-cell expression as determined by Western blotting. Interestingly, the increased ATP release seen was not a result of increased mitochondrial ATP production.
Thus, this is the first report demonstrating that RV-16 infection of airway epithelial cells causes hypersensitivity by increasing ATP release. These finding provide a novel insight into the process by which viruses may cause cough and identify a potential target for treatment of viral and post-viral cough.
Abstract
Rhinovirus-infected airway epithelial cells (A549) show increased ATP release with and without a secondary stimulation (mechanical or hypotonic), which may account for increased cough sensitivity seen during respiratory viral infections https://bit.ly/3eABEY9
Footnotes
Author contributions: S.K. Atkinson conceived and designed the study; acquired, analysed and interpreted the data; and drafted and revised the final manuscript for publication. A.H. Morice conceived and designed the study; interpreted the data; and drafted and revised the final manuscript for publication. L.R. Sadofsky conceived and designed study; provided supervision; interpreted the data; and drafted, revised and approved the final manuscript for publication.
Conflict of interest: S.K. Atkinson has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: A.H. Morice has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: L.R. Sadofsky has nothing to disclose.
Support statement: This project formed part of a University of Hull-funded PhD studentship.
- Received March 31, 2020.
- Accepted July 8, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020
This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.