The Role of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Early Life Lung Infection

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the commonest reason for bronchiolitis and hospitalisation for a child under the age of two. Children with severe bronchiolitis are at a high risk of developing wheeze and asthma later in childhood. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) may play a pivotal role in immunity to RSV bronchiolitis. Aims and Objectives: The role of ILCs in respiratory infection in infants is not well understood. We aim to investigate the role of ILCs in early life infection in viral bronchiolitis. Methods: ILCs frequencies will be investigated in blood and airway samples collected from infants based on severity of infection using established FACS panel. ILCs will be defined as CD45+, lineage negative (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD56, CD1a, CD123 FceR1α)-, CD127+ cells. Alongside cellular work, the immune mediators will be measured to identify ILCs stimulants using a variety of technique such as qRT-PCR, immunoassays and transcriptomics. Results: We successfully optimised a FACS panel for enumerating ILCs in different samples in small volumes of paediatric clinical samples. Preliminary results suggest ILCs numbers are increased in whole blood obtained from children compared to healthy adults. Conclusions: Small volumes of material can be used for ILC enumeration and preliminary studies demonstrate increased ILC numbers in whole blood obtained from children. In this project we will define the contribution of ILC to the development of viral bronchiolitis. Determining why some infants develop bronchiolitis could lead to better understanding of immunity and development of new biomarkers and clinical prophylactics.