CXCR2 is required for neutrophil recruitment to the lung during influenza virus infection, but is not essential for viral clearance.

Neutrophils traffic to the lungs in large numbers during influenza virus infection. Although the ability of these cells to respond to numerous chemotactic stimuli has been described in other systems, the chemokine receptors mediating recruitment of neutrophils to the lungs during influenza virus infection and the role of this cell type in viral clearance are currently undefined. In the present study, we used CXCR2(/) mice to investigate the role of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 in neutrophil recruitment to the lungs during influenza virus infection and to determine the role of neutrophils in viral clearance.