The common cold virus can reproduce itself better in the cooler temperatures inside the nose than at core body temperature, a study out today reveals.
The findings of this Yale University, USA, study may give credence to the old wives’ tale that people should keep warm and cover their noses to avoid catching colds.
Although it is already known that the rhinovirus, most frequent cause of the common cold, reproduces easily in the cool nasal cavity than in the warmer lungs, previous studies have focused on how body temperature influenced the virus as opposed to the immune system.
In this study, Akiko Iwasaki, senior author and Yale professor of immunobiology, and a team of researchers headed by postdoctoral fellow Ellen Foxman, examined the cells taken from the airways of mice.
Comparing the immune response to rhinovirus when cells were incubated at 37C and 33C, the team found that the innate immune response to the rhinovirus is impaired at the lower body temperature compared to the core body temperature.
The study also suggested that the varying temperatures influenced the immune response rather than the virus.
They also observed viral replication in airway cells from mice with genetic deficiencies in the immune system sensors that detect virus and in the antiviral response.
The virus was then able to replicate at the higher temperature.
“That proves it’s not just virus intrinsic, but it’s the host’s response that’s the major contributor,” said Prof Iwasaki.
“In general, the lower the temperature, it seems the lower the innate immune response to viruses.”
Future research may probe the immune response to rhinovirus-induced asthma.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 5 January 2015
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