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The common cold at the turn of the millennium
P B Van Cauwenberge1, M J van Kempen, C Bachert
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
Abstract:
Upper respiratory tract infections are one of the most common infectious diseases in man and are characterized by transient, relatively mild symptoms. Human rhinoviruses are known to be the major causative agent in adult common colds and their relative importance has further increased with the use of the sensitive RT-PCR technique. Characteristic for a common cold is the selective neutrophil recruitment and time-limited increase in mediator, cytokine, and chemokine concentrations that orchestrate chemotaxis, transmigration, and activation of inflammatory and immunocompetent cells. Common cold symptoms are found to correlate to rhinovirus-induced IL-8 elaboration and neutrophil activation. Treatment of rhinoviral upper respiratory tract infections consists of an inhibition of viral infection by antiviral agents and/or a reduction of symptoms by damping the host inflammatory response.
Insights
Human rhinoviruses cause common colds, leading to mild symptoms via inflammatory responses. Treatments aim to inhibit viral replication or reduce inflammation for effective common cold management.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common, with rhinoviruses being a primary cause of adult common colds.
- Sensitive RT-PCR techniques have increased the detection and understanding of rhinovirus prevalence.
- Common colds involve neutrophil recruitment and mediator release, orchestrating an inflammatory response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between rhinovirus infection and the inflammatory response in common colds.
- To understand the role of IL-8 and neutrophil activation in rhinovirus-induced symptoms.
- To outline current treatment strategies for rhinovirus URTIs.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on rhinovirus infections and common cold pathogenesis.
- Analysis of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and chemokines involved in the host response.
- Correlation of clinical symptoms with specific molecular markers like IL-8 and neutrophil activation.
Main Results:
- Rhinovirus infection triggers selective neutrophil recruitment and a transient increase in inflammatory mediators.
- Common cold symptoms correlate with rhinovirus-induced Interleukin-8 (IL-8) elaboration and neutrophil activation.
- The inflammatory cascade involves chemotaxis, transmigration, and activation of immune cells.
Conclusions:
- Rhinovirus-induced inflammation, particularly IL-8 and neutrophil activity, is central to common cold symptoms.
- Effective treatment strategies should target viral replication and modulate the host's inflammatory response.
- Understanding these mechanisms aids in developing better therapeutic interventions for URTIs.