Differential gene expression of lymphocytes stimulated with rhinovirus species A and C in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children

Background: Evidence suggests that immune responses to rhinovirus A and C are altered in asthmatic children and rhinovirus species induce different types of antibody responses. Objective: To ascertain and compare the T-cell memory response induced by RV-A and RV-C in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children who previously suffered asthma exacerbation (asthmatics) and non-asthmatic controls were stimulated in vitro with peptide formulations to induce representative species-specific responses to RV-A and RV-C. Expression of genes was measured by RNA-seq and differentially expressed genes were further analysed to identify enriched pathways and upstream regulators. Results: Responses to RV-A showed markedly higher upregulation of IFNG and the IFNG responsive genes CXCL9, 10 and 11 and STAT1 compared to RV-C. There was no reciprocal upregulation of Th2 cytokine genes or the Th2 chemokine genes CCL11, CCL17 and CCL22. RV-C but not RV-A induced high upregulation of CCL24 (eotaxin-2) in both non-asthmatic and asthmatic responses. Upstream regulator analysis showed both RV-A and, although to a diminished extent, RV-C induced predominant Th1 and inflammatory cytokine expression. The responses of asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics was diminished to both RV-A and RV-C while retaining the pattern for gene expression and upstream regulators characteristic of each species and there was no upregulation of Th2-type responses. All groups showed activation of the IL-17A pathway. Conclusions: RV-C induced memory cells with a lower IFNG type response than RV-A without Th2 upregulation. Asthmatics had lower recall responses than non-asthmatics while largely retaining the same gene activation profile for each species. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children who previously suffered asthma exacerbation (asthmatics) and non-asthmatic controls were stimulated in vitro with peptide formulations to induce representative species-specific responses to RV-A and RV-C. Expression of genes was measured by RNA-seq and differentially expressed genes were further analysed to identify enriched pathways and upstream regulators.