How does the immune system affect common cold severity?

Distinct immune programs activated within nasal tissue determine whether a rhinovirus infection causes mild illness or severe complications.

What are 'noses-in-a-dish' used for in research?

'Noses-in-a-dish' are laboratory models of human nasal passages used to study how cells react to rhinovirus infections.

Can this research lead to new cold treatments?

Yes, the findings provide insights that may lead to the development of effective antiviral treatments for the common cold, especially for vulnerable individuals.

Home / Health / Cold Severity Tied to Immune Response

Cold Severity Tied to Immune Response

2 Feb

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Summary

Immune programs in nasal tissue determine rhinovirus infection severity.
Lab-grown 'noses-in-a-dish' mimic human nasal passages for study.
Findings may lead to new antiviral treatments for common colds.

New laboratory experiments have revealed that the varied severity of rhinovirus infections is determined by the activation of distinct immune programs within nasal tissue. Researchers utilized "noses-in-a-dish" models, essentially miniature human nasal passages grown in a lab, to study cellular responses to infection.

These findings, published recently in Cell Press Blue, highlight that how severely a rhinovirus affects an individual can depend on the specific immune pathways triggered. This research is a significant step toward developing targeted antiviral therapies for the common cold.

Scientists employed single-cell RNA sequencing on nasal epithelial cells to understand their interaction with rhinoviruses. When interferon signaling was suppressed, the cells showed a more pronounced and prolonged immune response, resembling severe infection outcomes seen in vulnerable patients.