Irish scientists led by a group from Trinity College Dublin have discovered how the dangerous respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disrupts our immune response and, in doing so, have identified an exciting new target for drug developers.
RSV causes a significant burden of disease in the global population, with approximately 33.1 million cases each year, and is the leading cause of childhood bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia. It is also particularly problematic for children and the elderly, with limited and relatively ineffective treatment options.
Working on human airway epithelial cells, the team of scientists discovered that RSV suppresses a key biological pathway in our cells (called the “JAK/STAT pathway”) and blocks “key immune system triggers” from entering the cell nuclei. These triggers are typically activated by interferon-alpha, our own natural antiviral.
Nigel Stevenson, Assistant Professor of Virology and Immunology in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology, is the lead author of the research paper, which has just been published in the leading journal Frontiers in Immunology. Nigel, who works at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI), said:
“Interferon alpha, which activates signals in our cells via the JAK/STAT pathway, is responsible for activating hundreds of antiviral genes, which then target the virus in different ways. So when RSV blocks interferon from communicating with these genes, the virus dampens our immune response, which can cause the virus to take hold and cause very serious medical problems very quickly.
“Our discovery is an exciting revelation because it identifies the JAK/STAT pathway as a prime target for therapeutic immune restoration. And this new knowledge is invaluable to drug developers, who need to fully understand how a virus evades our immune system before they can successfully create a treatment to reverse the tide.”
“We believe that such a treatment could have a significant impact in the treatment of RSV and even eliminate RSV infection, which would represent a much-needed solution for children and the elderly, who are very vulnerable to this dangerous virus.”
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