Rhinovirus infection and expression of adhesion molecules in human tracheal epithelium

Rhinovirus infection has attracted attention because it can lead to acute exacerbations of chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. We established a culture system and inoculated human rhinovirus to human tracheal epithelial cells, and found that infection was augmented by up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which is the receptor for this virus. We also found that human airway epithelial cells infected with rhinovirus were susceptible to a chemical oxidant (H₂O₂) released by inflammatory cells, which would contribute to acute exacerbations of inflammatory airway diseases. Finally, we found that anti-ICAM-1 antibodies or dexamethasone can inhibit the infectivity to rhinovirus by suppressing ICAM-1, and diminish susceptibility to oxidants in the cultured human tracheal epithelium.