Mechanisims of asthma and allergic disease – 1080. Interactive effect of sodium sulfite and rhinovirus infection in chemokines production by airway epithelial cells

Background Sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) is a product of sulfur dioxide (SO2). Inhaled sulfur dioxide can be easily hydrated to yield sodium sulfite in the respiratory tract. Sulfur dioxide is one of the most important air pollutants that can adversely affect the respiratory system. Rhinovirus (RV) is a major cause of common cold and is a major risk factor responsible for the exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An epidemiological study suggested that interactions between sulfur dioxide and viral infections exacerbate respiratory disease. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying these interactions. We investigated the effects of sodium sulfite on the production of RVinduced chemokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8); regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES); and interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in airway epithelial cells in vitro.