同じ風邪でも重症化する人がいる理由を解明(Why the same cold can be a sniffle for some and a crisis for others)

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2026-01-19 イェール大学

イェール大学の研究者は、同じ風邪ウイルスに感染しても、人によって「軽い鼻水程度」で済む場合と、「重症化して危機的状態に陥る場合」が生じる理由を解説した。鍵となるのはウイルスそのものよりも、個々人の免疫応答の違いである。免疫反応が適切に制御されれば症状は軽いが、過剰または不十分な反応は炎症を増幅させ、症状悪化や合併症を引き起こす。年齢、基礎疾患、過去の感染歴、遺伝的要因に加え、初期段階の自然免疫の働きが重症度を大きく左右するという。研究者は、症状の差を理解することで、重症化リスクの高い人を早期に見極め、個別化した予防や治療につなげられる可能性を指摘している。

同じ風邪でも重症化する人がいる理由を解明(Why the same cold can be a sniffle for some and a crisis for others)
Electron micrograph showing a human nasal epithelial cell releasing rhinovirus (blue). Credit: Julien Amat, Bao Wang

<関連情報>

ライノウイルスは上皮細胞の自然免疫シグナル伝達の異なる関与を通じて異なる宿主反応を引き起こす Rhinovirus triggers distinct host responses through differential engagement of epithelial innate immune signaling

Bao Wang ∙ Julien A.R. Amat ∙ Valia T. Mihaylova ∙ Yong Kong ∙ Guilin Wang ∙ Ellen F. Foxman
Cell Pres Blue  Published:January 19, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpblue.2025.100001

Highlights

  • Nasal epithelial organoids capture a spectrum of responses to rhinovirus infection
  • Blocking interferon response leads to IL-1β release and mucus hyperproduction
  • Targeting NLRP1 alleviates the inflammatory response to rhinovirus

Summary

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the most frequent cause of common colds, but they are also a major cause of respiratory distress in high-risk groups (e.g., smokers and people with asthma). The molecular mechanisms leading to the wide range of infection outcomes are not fully understood. Using single-cell sequencing of an organotypic model of the human nasal epithelium and mechanistic experiments, here we show that differential engagement of innate immune signaling pathways alters the inflammatory response initiated in RV target cells. In the intact human nasal epithelium, RV primarily induces an interferon response, which restricts the infection to <2% of cells. Inhibiting this response increases viral replication and exaggerates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)- and Nod-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1)-dependent pro-inflammatory responses and mucus hyperproduction with positive feedback from interleukin (IL)-1β release. These results elucidate molecular mechanisms leading to distinct host responses to RV infection and reveal potential therapeutic targets.

医療・健康
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