distinguishing-intrapulmonary-immune-cells-from-intravascular-immune

Distinguishing Intrapulmonary Immune Cells from Intravascular Immune Cell Populations: the Intrajugular Approach

Circadian rhythms refer to oscillations in various biological process that occur with a 24 h period. At the molecular level, such rhythms are comprised of ...

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Influenza is a leading cause of respiratory mortality and morbidity. While inflammation is essential for fighting infection, a balance of anti-viral defense and host tolerance is necessary for recovery. Circadian rhythms have been shown to modulate inflammation. However, the importance of diurnal variability in the timing of influenza infection is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that endogenous rhythms affect survival in influenza infection. Circadian control of influenza infection is mediated by enhanced inflammation as proven by increased cellularity in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), pulmonary transcriptomic profile and histology and is not attributable to viral burden. Better survival is associated with a time dependent preponderance of NK and NKT cells and lower proportion of inflammatory monocytes in the lung. Further, using a series of genetic mouse mutants, we elucidate cellular mechanisms underlying circadian gating of influenza infection.

Circadian control of lung inflammation in influenza infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated novel approaches and collaborative efforts across multiple disciplines. It is known that various aspects of our physiology and response to pathogens are under tight clock control. However, the assimilation of circadian biology into our clinical and research practices is still evolving. Using a focused review of the literature and original analyses of the UK Biobank, we discuss how circadian biology may inform our diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in this pandemic.

Shaon Sengupta

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Distinguishing Intrapulmonary Immune Cells from Intravascular Immune Cell Populations: the Intrajugular Approach