Involvement of epigenetic modification in epithelial immune responses during respiratory syncytial virus infection.

The epithelial cells of bronchi (BECs) act as a protective wall against potential pathogens and foreign particles that controls many aspects of respiratory immune response. The BECs act as not only a physical protecting wall of the airways but also as a significant part of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Many kind of epithelium-associated communicating pathways which are triggered by genetic and environmental causating agents get involved in development of respiratory tract abnormalities. Epigenetic dysregulation is one potential mechanism which may mediate between adverse in early life exposures such as severe infections and immunological function deficits in later life. Epigenetic factors which regulate the respiratory tract lining structure and role are also an attractive area to assess the susceptibility of respiratory tract diseases. Several studies show that the key genes in epithelium-related signaling pathways have epigenetic modifications. The interactions mediating the relationship between severe bronchiolitis caused by RSV and their adverse consequences in childhood are broadly understood as immunological in nature, however, are yet to be fully uncovered. Thus, our study explained the immune action of epithelium and RSV-triggered immune imbalance of epithelium through epigenetic modifications in the mechanism of airway hyperresponsiveness.