Influenza A virus interactions with macrophages: Lessons from epithelial cells

Influenza viruses are an important cause of respiratory infection worldwide. In humans, infection with seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) is generally restricted to the respiratory tract where productive infection of airway epithelial cells promotes viral amplification, dissemination, and disease. Alveolar macrophages (M phi) are also among the first cells to detect and respond to IAV, where they play a pivotal role in mounting effective innate immune responses. In contrast to epithelial cells, IAV infection of M phi is a dead end for most seasonal strains, where replication is abortive and newly synthesised virions are not released. Although the key replicative stages leading to productive IAV infection in epithelial cells are defined, there is limited knowledge about the abortive IAV life cycle in M phi. In this review, we will explore host factors and viral elements that support the early stages (entry) through to the late stages (viral egress) of IAV replication in epithelial cells. Similarities, differences, and unknowns for each key stage of the IAV replicative cycle in M phi will then be highlighted. Herein, we provide mechanistic insights into M phi-specific control of seasonal IAV replication through abortive infection, which may in turn, contribute to effective host defence.