Rhinovirus triggers distinct host responses through differential engagement of epithelial innate immune signaling
Abstract
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
Fields of Study & Subjects
interferon and immune responses
Respiratory viral infections research
Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cell Press Blue
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 100001–100001
- Publication date
- 19 January 2026
- Language
- EN