Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)-induced allergy may be controlled by IL-4 and CX3C fractalkine antagonists and CpG ODN as adjuvant: Hypothesis and implications for treatment

Abstract

Based on the hypothesis that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sG protein causes allergy in patients, it is suggested that treatment of RSV patients with antagonists of IL-4 and FKN early in infection will prevent the increased level of IL-4 in the serum. Together with CpG ODNs that induce Toll-like receptor 9+ (TLR9+) plasmacytoid dendritic cells to release type I IFN-α and -β will reactivate the inhibited Th1 cells and the antiviral cytotoxic T leukocytes. In addition, binding of CpG ODNs to TLR9 + B cells will stop IgE synthesis and antiviral IgG and IgA will continue. Together, the IL-4 and FKN antagonists and CpG ODNs reactivate the adaptive immune response to clear the virus and protect the patient from a second RSV infection. It is also suggested that the less-pathogenic RSV strain Long may be a candidate for vaccine development after deletion of the FKN and superantigen domains from the G gene. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.