Pathological Examination of Lung Tissues in Influenza A Virus-Infected Mice

概要

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This study examined pathological changes in the lung tissues of young and aged mice infected with influenza virus. Young mice inoculated with influenza virus showed body weight loss at 4 days post-infection (dpi), meanwhile body weight decrease started from 9 dpi in the aged mice. We histopathologically examined the lungs of these mice. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that viral antigen-positive bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cell numbers at 3 dpi were significantly higher in young mice than in the aged ones. Further, viral antigen-positive cells were observed at 9 dpi in the aged mice, but not in the young ones. Diffuse and severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia characterized by the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was observed in young mice at 6 dpi. Histopathological changes in the aged mice were milder than those in the young mice. Moreover, T cell and macrophage accumulation in the lungs was significantly higher in the young mice than in the aged mice at 9 dpi. These results suggest that there may be a correlation between the relatively low level of infiltration of PMNs, macrophages, and T lymphocytes and the delayed body weight loss and longer lasting infections observed in the lungs of the aged mice. These findings provide detailed insights into the age-specific course of infection in young and aged populations with associated differences in lung pathology.
National Institute of Infectious Diseasesの論文