Scientists in Sweden have found a new and easy way to detect COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) early—by testing mucus from the nose.
This discovery could lead to quicker diagnoses and better treatment for millions of people.
COPD affects about 10% of the population and is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. It’s mainly caused by long-term exposure to smoke, often from tobacco or burning wood.
People with COPD often struggle to breathe and have coughing, wheezing, and other long-term lung problems.
However, the disease can look different in each person, which makes it hard to diagnose and treat properly.
Now, researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital have found that a protein in the nose, called interleukin-26 (IL-26), might help doctors detect COPD in its early stages.
IL-26 is part of the immune system and plays a role in fighting infections and controlling inflammation. In people with COPD, IL-26 has already been found in higher amounts in the lungs.
But in this study, researchers looked at how much IL-26 was in the nose, using a simple and non-invasive method called nasal lavage (rinsing the nose with a saline solution and collecting the fluid).
They studied 50 people, including smokers with and without COPD, and a healthy group of non-smokers. They found that smokers with COPD had much higher levels of IL-26 in their noses compared to non-smokers.
Even smokers without COPD showed slightly higher levels, suggesting the protein might be linked to early inflammation before full COPD develops.
“We found that IL-26 levels in the nose reflect the inflammation happening deeper in the lungs,” said Julia Arebro, lead author of the study. “This means we might be able to detect and monitor COPD without needing more complicated and risky tests.”
The study also found that T cells, a kind of white blood cell, help produce IL-26 in the nose. This shows that the immune system is actively involved in the inflammation seen in COPD.
“Our research suggests that IL-26 plays a role in the ongoing lung inflammation seen in COPD,” said Professor Anders Lindén, who led the study. “This could also lead to new treatments that focus on reducing IL-26 levels to improve patients’ health.”
The study focused on people with mild to moderate COPD, but the researchers plan to study people with more advanced disease next. If future studies confirm these results, doctors may be able to use a simple nose test to catch COPD earlier and help patients live longer, healthier lives.
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