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- Gilles, Stefanie, et al.
(author)
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Pollen exposure weakens innate defense against respiratory viruses.
- 2020
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In: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 75:3, s. 576-587
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hundreds of plant species release their pollen into the air every year during early spring. During that period, pollen allergic as well as non-allergic patients frequently present to doctors with severe respiratory tract infections.To assess whether pollen may interfere with antiviral immunity.We combined data from real life human exposure cohorts, a mouse model and human cell culture to test our hypothesis.Pollen significantly diminished interferon-λ and pro-inflammatory chemokine responses of airway epithelia to rhinovirus and viral mimics and decreased nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factors. In mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus, co-exposure to pollen caused attenuated antiviral gene expression and increased pulmonary viral titers. In non-allergic human volunteers, nasal symptoms were positively correlated with airborne birch pollen abundance, and nasal birch pollen challenge led to down-regulation of type I and -III interferons in nasal mucosa. In a large patient cohort, numbers of rhinovirus-positive cases were correlated with airborne birch pollen concentrations.The ability of pollen to suppress innate antiviral immunity, independent of allergy, suggests that high-risk population groups should avoid extensive outdoor activities when pollen and respiratory virus seasons coincide.
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