Interactions between ocular tissue and RSV

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是研究眼睛与呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）之间的相互作用，RSV是一种临床上重要的呼吸道病原体。RSV是副粘病毒科的一种RNA病毒，感染RSV可导致支气管肺发育不良、肺细胞破坏、哮喘，每年死亡人数约为100万，其中大多数是婴儿。因此，RSV传统上被认为是一种呼吸道病原体。然而，对于病毒在自然感染中进入肺部的确切途径还没有全面的了解。十多年前，间接流行病学研究表明，眼睛可能在呼吸道RSV疾病中起作用。近年来，我们实验室和其他人的研究已经建立了过敏性结膜炎与眼睛中RSV和细胞因子的存在之间的显著关联。因此，我们认为现在是时候测试眼睛是否可能是rsv感染的重要器官和途径。基于此，我们将检验以下假设：(i)眼睛是支持RSV感染的真正生理器官；（ii）在这种情况下，眼睛提供了RSV进入的通道，并最终继续感染肺部；（iii）眼部感染rsv可导致免疫调节细胞因子/趋化因子的分泌，这可能是“过敏眼”（红眼）的重要原因，常见于呼吸道疾病患者。我们对眼部呼吸道合胞病毒感染的研究将使用小鼠模型，该模型在呼吸道合胞病毒介导的呼吸道感染方面建立良好，忠实地模仿了人类呼吸道疾病。如果我们的假设被证实，这将建立RSV-eye相互作用的动物模型，并为眼免疫病理学、眼内RNA病毒激活的信号通路和靶向眼的抗病毒药物方案开辟新的方向

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research is to investigate the interaction between the eye and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a clinically significant pathogen of the respiratory tract. Infection by RSV, a RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family, produces bronchopulmonary dysplasia, destruction of lung cells, asthma, and results in an annual death toll of roughly 1 million, mostly infants. Thus, RSV is traditionally considered a respiratory pathogen. However, there is no comprehensive knowledge about the exact pathway(s) of entry of the virus into the lung in natural infection. More than a decade ago, indirect epidemiological studies suggested that the eye might play a role in the respiratory RSV disease. In recent times, studies from our laboratory and others' have established a significant association between allergic conjunctivitis and the presence of RSV and cytokines in the eye. Thus, we believe that the time is right to test whether the eye may be an important organ and route of RSV-infection. Based on this, we will test the following hypothesis:(i) The eye serves as a bona fide physiological organ that supports RSV infection; (ii) in this capacity, the eye provides a gateway through which RSV gains entry, and eventually proceeds to infect the lungs; (iii) RSV-infection of the eye leads to the elaboration of immunoregulatory cytokines/ chemokines, which may be an important cause of "Allergy Eye" (Red Eye), commonly seen in patients with respiratory disease. Our studies of ocular RSV infection will use the mouse model, well established for RSV-mediated respiratory infection that faithfully mimics the human respiratory disease. Should our hypotheses be proven, it would establish an animal model for RSV-eye interaction, and open new directions in ocular immunopathology, RNA virus-activated signaling pathways in the eye, and antiviral drug regimen targeting the eye