Mechanisms at the Interface of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in the Pathogenesis of RSV Disease: Lessons from the Mouse Model

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is a serious health concern in young children, immunocompromised adults and the elderly. No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available and to develop these, a more thorough understanding of the immune mechanisms of RSV-induced inflammation is required. Studies in mouse models have provided valuable insights and this review aims to provide a concise summary of recent findings on patho-mechanisms at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity. We discuss the role of epithelial cells, macrophages and dendritic cells as well as toll like receptor signalling in RSV-induced airway inflammation and compare data from mouse models with observations from studies in human cells and patients, where available.