A new study has found that when we catch a cold, it’s not just the virus that matters—it’s how our body responds to it. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered that the body’s own defense system plays a big role in whether or not we get sick from the common cold, and how bad the symptoms are.
The most common cause of colds is a virus called rhinovirus. This virus infects the cells that line our noses. It’s also known to cause more serious problems for people with asthma and other lung conditions. Until now, scientists didn’t fully understand what happens at the cellular level when this virus enters the nose.
To learn more, the research team led by Dr. Ellen Foxman created a lab-grown model of human nasal tissue. They grew human nasal stem cells in special conditions for four weeks.
The cells developed into tissue that looked and acted like the inside of the human nose. These tissues even included mucus-producing cells and cells with cilia—tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs.
This lab-grown tissue model gave the scientists a clear view of how cells in the nose react when they come into contact with the rhinovirus. Unlike standard cell cultures used in many labs, this model more closely mimics what happens in the human body.
The team found that when rhinovirus enters the nasal lining, cells quickly release proteins called interferons. These interferons help stop the virus from multiplying.
They send signals to nearby cells to prepare for battle, creating an environment where the virus cannot spread easily. This defense system kicks in very early—before the immune system even gets involved.
When researchers blocked the interferon response in the lab, the virus spread much more easily and caused damage to the nasal tissue. This suggests that a fast interferon response is critical to stopping the virus in its tracks.
Interestingly, the study also found that once the virus starts spreading and the interferon defense is too slow or weak, other body responses take over.
These include extra mucus production and inflammation, which can make symptoms worse and cause breathing problems. These later responses are what we usually feel during a cold, such as stuffy noses and coughing.
The researchers believe that these findings could lead to new treatments. Instead of targeting the virus itself, future cold remedies might focus on boosting the body’s early defense mechanisms, like the interferon response. This could help stop colds before they fully develop.
The study also highlighted that our response to a virus might be more important than the virus itself when it comes to getting sick. This idea could change how we think about and treat viral infections, not just colds but others as well.
Though the lab-grown tissues used in the study didn’t include every cell type found in a living body—especially immune cells—the findings still provide valuable insight. The next step is to explore how different cell types and environmental factors inside our noses affect this defense system.
This research shows how complex and powerful our body’s natural defenses are and opens the door to exciting new ways to treat or even prevent common viral infections like the cold.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
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