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Low ambient humidity impairs barrier function and innate resistance against influenza infection

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  • Low ambient humidity impairs barrier function and innate resistance against influenza infection

    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 May 13. pii: 201902840. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1902840116. [Epub ahead of print]
    Low ambient humidity impairs barrier function and innate resistance against influenza infection.

    Kudo E1, Song E1, Yockey LJ1, Rakib T1, Wong PW1, Homer RJ2,3, Iwasaki A4,5,6.
    Author information

    Abstract

    In the temperate regions, seasonal influenza virus outbreaks correlate closely with decreases in humidity. While low ambient humidity is known to enhance viral transmission, its impact on host response to influenza virus infection and disease outcome remains unclear. Here, we showed that housing Mx1 congenic mice in low relative humidity makes mice more susceptible to severe disease following respiratory challenge with influenza A virus. We find that inhalation of dry air impairs mucociliary clearance, innate antiviral defense, and tissue repair. Moreover, disease exacerbated by low relative humidity was ameliorated in caspase-1/11-deficient Mx1 mice, independent of viral burden. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that induction of IFN-stimulated genes in response to viral infection was diminished in multiple cell types in the lung of mice housed in low humidity condition. These results indicate that exposure to dry air impairs host defense against influenza infection, reduces tissue repair, and inflicts caspase-dependent disease pathology.
    Copyright ? 2019 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.


    KEYWORDS:

    disease tolerance; flu season; interferon; mucosal immunity; respiratory tract

    PMID: 31085641 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902840116
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