Antigen presentation by a macrophage-like cell line persistently infected with respiratory syncytial virus

Severe infection by the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) early in life is associated with subsequent recurrent airway disease presumably mediated by dysregulation of the local immune response. Dysfunction of the immune response may be related to impaired macrophage functions. We have previously reported that RSV persistence in a macrophage culture (MΦper) alters Fcγ receptors (FcγR)-mediated phagocytosis and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we determined whether the ability of macrophages to process and present antigens and to stimulate RSV-specific CD8⁺ T cells was altered in MΦper. We also examined the level of expression of MHC class I molecules in MΦper and the ability of these cells to present viral antigens to specific T lymphocytes. Our results showed that antigen processing and presentation were not altered by chronic RSV infection, and suggested that MΦper were able to stimulate RSV-specific CD8 ⁺ T lymphocytes.