In general, colds can cause different symptoms in different people. New research reveals why this is the case. (Photo: Getty)

getty

No one knows why some people experience just a slight sniffle when they get a cold, while others experience more severe symptoms. Well, you could say that the Yale research team has gotten very picky about this issue. These researchers literally grew parts of human noses in laboratory dishes and then tried to infect these experimental noses with the virus that commonly causes the common cold. And they found something in the nose that could “interfere” with whether or not these viruses infect these nasal cells. As described in scientific journal publications Cell Press Blue.

Nasal growth and cold virus infection

Now, growing a nose in a lab dish might sound like something super futuristic, like something out of a 1973 futuristic movie. sleeper. But that’s similar to what a team at Yale School of Medicine (Bao Wang, Julien AR Amat, Valia T. Mihaylova, Guilin Wang, Ellen F. Foxman) and School of Public Health (Hong Kong) did. The researchers were able to grow real human nasal cells into organoids that grow tiny hairs known as cilia and produce mucus, much like the inner lining of the nose and airways.

The research team then tried to infect these nasal cells with rhinovirus. Rhinovirus doesn’t turn you into a rhinoceros, but it is a very common cause of colds. As detailed previously forbes. The prefix “sai” here actually means “nose” in Greek, which is usually where the virus first enters the body and carries out its infectious activities.

The researchers then looked at whether the nasal mucosa cells were actually infected, which genes responsible for immune defense mechanisms were turned on, and what happened to cells close to the infected cells. This includes measuring the resulting levels of virus, which cells ultimately die, the amount of mucus, and the levels of various immune defense chemicals. They also repeated this procedure while applying drugs that could block the production of these various immune defense chemicals.

Interferon production may be key to limiting the spread of cold viruses

Some of these chemicals are known as interferons. Interferon got its name from the observation that it could “interfere” with the behavior of viruses and other invaders. cleveland clinic website Interferons are called “the body’s first line of defense,” and are like foot soldiers of the immune system. When some infections or cancers occur, various immune cells, such as white blood cells, tend to produce interferon. Interferon, in turn, triggers the production of a cascade of other chemicals, including cytokines.

Researchers created lab-grown interferon in 1986 and began using it to help the immune system fight various infections and cancers. The classification of interferons is as simple as “A, B, G.” They are divided into three main categories based on which cells produce them and what stimulates their production: interferon alpha, interferon beta, and interferon gamma. Although recently discovered, interferon lambda requires further research to better characterize it.

This research team from Yale University found that lab noses can produce interferon, which can prevent rhinoviruses from infecting cells and limit the spread of the virus. Attenuating or completely blocking this interferon production apparently allowed the rhinovirus to infect more cells, cause more inflammation, and cause more damage. All of this suggests that the presence and speed of a cellular interferon response may have a major impact on whether a cold causes only mild symptoms or more severe symptoms.

What can affect interferon production against cold viruses

This is another reminder that the symptoms you get from a cold are the result of two things: the nastiest virus and your immune system’s response to the virus. Immune defenses can influence the spread of the virus and the extent of damage. In fact, many of the symptoms, such as mucus production, are the immune system’s response to the virus.

The big question is: how can we increase our interferon response capacity? It is still not entirely clear why different people have better interferon responses than others. To paraphrase Lady Gaga, some people may be born this way. At the same time, all the things that affect your general health and immune system, such as nutrition and physical activity, can also affect your interferon response. For example, some studies have investigated whether consuming certain herbs can increase interferon responses. Previous exposure to such viruses may also have an effect. As Yoda says, there is a lot to learn about the interferon response.

Various research groups continue to investigate ways to use different interferons to enhance interferon responses and treat various conditions. Interferon alpha is already used to treat conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and C, hairy cell leukemia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and genital warts. Interferon beta can be used as part of multiple sclerosis treatment. Interferon gamma is also used for chronic granulomatous disease and a bone disease known as severe osteopetrosis.

If you’ve been waiting for sniveling interferon to become available to prevent or treat colds, don’t hold your breath just yet. Further research is needed to determine if and how this will become a reality. In the meantime, there are things you can do to avoid catching a cold. For example, washing dirty hands more often and thoroughly. as I claimed earlier forbes. It’s also helpful to regularly disinfect anything you might touch, like your smartphone or Chris Hemsworth’s biceps. Finally, no one knows where rhinovirus is hiding, so be more careful about when and how often you touch your nose.