Bronchial epithelial cell and Th17 cell gene expression in air-liquid interface co-culture with rhinovirus infection

Bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from children with asthma were obtained
under an IRB approved study and were differentiated to an organotypic
epithelium and primed via co-culture with healthy donor Th17 lymphocytes
for 4 days prior to apical infection with human rhinovirus-16 (RV-16) and
RNA harvest 48 hours later. RNA sequencing with WGCNA analysis was
performed to identify modules of gene expression altered by Th17 priming
or RV-16 infection in BECs or Th17 cells. Gene expression was correlated
with viral copy number and with secreted protein levels.