Acute Effects of Parainfluenza Virus on Epithelial Electrolyte Transport

Karl Kunzelmann, etc.,al. Acute Effects of Parainfluenza Virus on Epithelial Electrolyte Transport. J. Biol. Chem., Nov 2004; 279: 48760 - 48766
submited by kickingbird at Nov, 19, 2004 9:52 AM from J. Biol. Chem., Nov 2004; 279: 48760 - 48766

Parainfluenza viruses are important causes of respiratory diseasein both children and adults. In particular, they are the majorcause of the serious childhood illness croup (laryngotracheobronchitis).The infections produced by parainfluenza viruses are associatedwith the accumulation of ions and fluid in the respiratory tract.It is not known, however, whether this accumulation is becauseof a direct effect of the viruses on ion and fluid transportby the respiratory epithelium. Here we show that a model parainfluenzavirus (the Sendai virus), in concentrations observed duringrespiratory infections, activates Cl secretion and inhibitsNa absorption across the tracheal epithelium. It does so bybinding to a neuraminidase-insensitive glycolipid, possiblyasialo-GM1, triggering the release of ATP, which then acts inan autocrine fashion on apical P2Y receptors to produce theobserved changes in ion transport. These findings indicate thatfluid accumulation in the respiratory tract associated withparainfluenza virus infection is attributable, at least in part,to direct effects of the virus on ion transport by the respiratoryepithelium.