Cytokine Response Patterns, Exposure to Viruses, and Respiratory Infections in the First Year of Life

Abstract

Daycare attendance and siblings are associated with viral-induced wheezing in children. Preexisting immunologic factors may influence the expression of viral infections in infancy, and in turn, recurrent infections may influence the development of immune responses. A total of 285 children were enrolled in the Childhood Origins of Asthma Project at birth and followed for at least 1 year. Cord blood and 1-year mononuclear cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, and cytokine-response profiles were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nasal lavage was performed for moderate to severe respiratory illnesses. Daycare attendance and/or siblings significantly increased the likelihood of contracting respiratory syncytial virus (1.5–1.6-fold increase) and rhinovirus (1.8–2.1-fold increase), and increased the risk of rhinovirus-induced wheezing (14–18% vs. 2%, p = 0.011). Cord blood IFN-γ responses were inversely related to the frequency of viral respiratory infections (rs = −0.11, p = 0.05), and more significant for subjects with high exposure to other children (rs = −0.27, p = 0.028). The interval change in infantile IFN-γ responses correlated positively with the frequency of viral infections in infancy (rs = 0.12, p = 0.047). These data suggest that neonatal IFN-γ responses may influence antiviral activity, or may represent a marker of antiviral immunity maturation. Conversely, the frequency of viral infections in infancy can influence IFN-γ responses.