Decreased Airway Epithelial Ion Transport Was Associated With The Severity Of The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection And Complications In Infants

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) primarily infects airway epithelial cells. It also decreases airway epithelial sodium transport, especially through the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) (1), which is crucial for osmosis-based fluid absorption across respiratory epithelium. Meanwhile, the electrochemical balance is maintained by secretion of chloride ions through apical chloride channels, including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) (1). In animals, ENaC inhibition has caused middle ear fluid collection in acute otitis media (AOM) (2).