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Research progress of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and respiratory diseases in infancy

DU Xi-Zi¹, SONG Shuang², QIN Xiao-Qun¹, XIANG Yang¹, QU Xiang-Ping¹, LIU Hui-Jun¹, LIU Chi^1,*

¹Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China；²Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China

Abstract

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of hospitalization for infants. Compared with adults, infants are more likely to cause serious respiratory diseases after RSV infection due to the specific immature airway structure and immune system. The balance of immune resistance and immune tolerance of the host is critical to effective virus clearance and disease control. This paper reviews the relationship between RSV infection and respiratory diseases in infancy, the influence factors of the high pathogenicity of RSV infection in early life, as well as the research progress of anti-RSV therapy, and expands the specific molecular events regulating immune resistance and immune tolerance. We expect to present new ideas for the prevention and treatment of RSV-related respiratory diseases in clinical practice.

Key words: respiratory syncytial virus; innate immunity; immune resistance; immune tolerance

Received: 2020-10-28　　Accepted: 2021-02-26

Corresponding author: 刘持　　E-mail: liu.chi@csu.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

DU Xi-Zi, SONG Shuang, QIN Xiao-Qun, XIANG Yang, QU Xiang-Ping, LIU Hui-Jun, LIU Chi. Research progress of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and respiratory diseases in infancy. Acta Physiol Sin 2021; 73 (6): 1043-1053 (in Chinese with English abstract).