Host Genetic Background Strongly Influences the Response to Influenza A Virus Infections
Figure 8
Severe damage of bronchial epithelia occurs in DBA/2J compared to C57BL/6J mice.
DBA/2J (A, C, E) and C57BL/6J mice (B, D, F) were infected intra-nasally with 2×103 FFU of PR8 virus. Lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A, B: Two days after infection, the lungs of DBA/2J mice (A) were more consolidated with higher numbers of plugged airways (arrows) than C57BL/6J mice (B). C, D: The bronchioli and bronchi of DBA/2J mice (C) were plugged with degenerate bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils with higher degrees of degeneration, necrosis and loss of epithelial cells (arrows) two days after infection. In addition, the airways were surrounded by larger numbers of neutrophils and macrophages (asterisks). Airways of C57BL/6J mice (D) showed less damage with little or no plugging of airways. At that time point, the lungs of both strains had few infiltrations with lymphocytes. E, F: Four days after infection, virtually no extravasations of lymphocytes were detected in DBA/2J mice (E) whereas marked perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations (arrows) were observed in the pulmonary interstitium of C57BL/6J mice (F). Bars = 250 µm (A, B), 25 µm (C, D) and 50 µm (E, F).