Characterization of the immune response in lung involved in fatal cases to hantavirus infection 2166

Abstract Description Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a zoonotic disease caused by distinct viruses grouped in the genus Orthohantavirus, includes several human pathogens of great concern in Argentina, such as Andes virus (ANDV) and Andes-like viruses, that cause HPS with case fatality rates ranging from 22 to 40%. Considering the difficulty to study the immune response in the lung from fatal cases with HPS given biosecurity, we aimed to investigate the immune response in the lung to understand the balance between protective and the harmful immunity in these cases. We present fatal cases corresponding to different endemic areas of Argentina. Gene expressions of FOXP3, GATA, RORC2, and Tbx21 were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and the TH1/TH2/TH17 cytokine profile was analyzed by flow cytometry in lung homogenates. The mRNA surfactant expression was determined by RT-PC and was compared with an uninfected patient (control) and A549 and Calu-3 cell lines, used as a positive control. The profile of cytokines, viral load, genotype and surfactants expression was correlated for each case. FOXP3 (+) Treg cell, high levels of IL-6, TH1 profile response and surfactants expression, suggesting that the role of these factors maybe critical in fatal cases. This finding may have important implications for understanding immune responses to HPS. Funding Sources - Scientific and Technological Research Projects (PICT) - Florencio Fiorini Foundation - Multiannual Research Projects (PIP) Topic Categories Viral Immunology (VIR)