Induction of Interleukin (IL)-8 Gene Expression by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Involves Activation of Nuclear Factor (NF)- B and NF-IL-6

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preferentially infects respiratory epithelium and is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infections in young children. RSV induces the production of interleukin (IL)-8 in airway epithelial cells; however, the mechanism of this induction is not known. To define the mechanism by which RSV induces IL-8 gene activation, A549 epithelial cells were transfected with plasmids containing serial deletions of the 5′-flanking region of the IL-8 gene and then exposed to RSV for 24 h. A positive cooperative effect of the binding sites for the transcription factors, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and NF-IL-6, was observed. Mutations in either region abates responsiveness of the promoter to RSV infection. RSV also increases activation of the NF-κB and NF-IL-6 transcription factors. These data suggest that RSV may increase IL-8 production in airway epithelium partly via activation of the transcription factors NF-κB and NF-IL-6.