Infection and immunity
-
Infection and immunity · Oct 2011
Pseudomonas aeruginosa suppresses interferon response to rhinovirus infection in cystic fibrosis but not in normal bronchial epithelial cells.
Despite increased morbidity associated with secondary respiratory viral infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we investigated the effect of P. aeruginosa infection on the innate immune responses of bronchial epithelial cells to rhinovirus (RV) infection. CF cells sequentially infected with mucoid P. aeruginosa (MPA) and RV showed lower levels of interferons (IFNs) and higher viral loads than those of RV-infected cells. ⋯ Treatment of CF cells with antioxidants prior to MPA infection partially reversed the suppressive effect of MPA on the RV-stimulated IFN response. Together, these results suggest that MPA preinfection inhibits viral clearance by suppressing the antiviral response particularly in CF cells but not in normal cells. Further, increased oxidative stress in CF cells appears to modulate the innate immune responses to coinfection.
-
Articles may be retracted when their findings are no longer considered trustworthy due to scientific misconduct or error, they plagiarize previously published work, or they are found to violate ethical guidelines. Using a novel measure that we call the "retraction index," we found that the frequency of retraction varies among journals and shows a strong correlation with the journal impact factor. Although retractions are relatively rare, the retraction process is essential for correcting the literature and maintaining trust in the scientific process.