Alveolar macrophages are essential for protection from respiratory failure and associated morbidity following influenza virus infection

Schneider, Christoph; Nobs, Samuel P; Heer, Alex K; Kurrer, Michael; Klinke, Glynis; van Rooijen, Nico; Vogel, Johannes; Kopf, Manfred

doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1004053

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Schneider, C., Nobs, S. P., Heer, A. K., Kurrer, M., Klinke, G., van Rooijen, N., Vogel, J., & Kopf, M. (2014). Alveolar macrophages are essential for protection from respiratory failure and associated morbidity following influenza virus infection. PLoS Pathogens, 10(4), e1004053. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004053

Abstract

Alveolar macrophages (AM) are critical for defense against bacterial and fungal infections. However, a definitive role of AM in viral infections remains unclear. We here report that AM play a key role in survival to influenza and vaccinia virus infection by maintaining lung function and thereby protecting from asphyxiation. Absence of AM in GM-CSF-deficient (Csf2-/-) mice or selective AM depletion in wild-type mice resulted in impaired gas exchange and fatal hypoxia associated with severe morbidity to influenza virus infection, while