Journal of medical virology
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Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) is an emerging pathogen with the potential to cause great harm to humans, and there is concern about the potential for a new influenza pandemic. This virus is resistant to the antiviral effects of interferons and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, the mechanism of interferon-independent protective innate immunity is not well understood. ⋯ Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the number of natural killer cells that expressed tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and that had migrated into the cervical lymph node was markedly increased (26-fold) after intranasal treatment with chitin microparticles. In addition, the level of IL-6 and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in the nasal mucosa after H5N1 influenza virus challenge was decreased by prophylactic treatment with chitin microparticles. These results suggest that prophylactic intranasal administration of chitin microparticles enhanced the local accumulation of natural killer cells and suppressed hyper-induction of cytokines, resulting in an innate immune response to prevent pathogenesis of H5N1 influenza virus.