Localization of Human Rhinovirus Replication in the Upper Respiratory Tract by In Situ Hybridization

Authors:
  • TBTimothy R. Boyle
    Timothy R. Boyle
  • BWBirgit Winther
    Birgit Winther
  • DPDaniel C. Pevear
    Daniel C. Pevear
  • JGJack M. Gwaltney
    Jack M. Gwaltney
  • FHFrederick G. Hayden
    Frederick G. Hayden
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Abstract
To localize the sites and determine the extent of human rhinovirus (HRV) replication in the upper respiratory tract, biopsies of nasal and nasopharyngeal epithelia were collected from 26 HRV-or 7 sham-inoculated volunteers on days 1, 3, and 5 and on days 12, 20, or 33 after inoculation and analyzed by in situ hybridization. HRV-infected cells were detected on at least 1 day in 22 of the 23 HRV-infected subjects and in 1 of the 7 sham-inoculated subjects who developed a cold and had nasal secretions positive for a picornavirus by polymerase chain reaction. Low numbers of in situ hybridization-positive ciliated cells were present in nasal biopsies. In the nasopharynx, most HRV-infected cells were ciliated, but infected nonciliated epithelial cells were also detected. Our results indicate that HRV replicates in a very small proportion of cells in the nasal epithelium and in both ciliated and nonciliated cells in the nasopharynx of experimentally infected humans.