It turns out that the nose does know.
New research has revealed a physical link between the cold and the severity of colds, and it’s right under—or rather, inside—our noses.
Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Northeastern University discovered an immune response inside the nose that fights infection when it’s hot enough.
According to a study published this month in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, this organ is a formidable front-line defender against the common cold and other pathogens, except when it’s cold.
“Conventionally, cold and flu season was thought to occur in the colder months because people spend more time indoors, where airborne viruses can spread more easily,” Dr. Benjamin Bleier said in a statement. , director of Otolaryngology Translational Research at Mass Eye and Ear and lead author of the study.
“Our study, however, points to a fundamental biological cause of the seasonal variation in viral upper respiratory infections that we see each year, most recently demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
We inhale pathogens through our noses, or we rub our noses and transfer germs from our hands to our nostrils. They then work their way into the body. The researchers built on the findings of a 2018 study, which determined that cells in the front of the nose release billions of “extracellular vesicles” (EVs), tiny fluid-filled sacs, that fight off invaders.
“It’s similar to if you kick a hornet’s nest and all the hornets come out and attack,” Bleier explained.
The 2018 experiment was done with bacteria. For the current study, Mansoor Amiji, a distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern, tested it with viruses and then took it a step further, studying the effects of temperature on this immune response.
Using cells grown from volunteers, the team found that the number of EVs dropped when the temperature inside the nose dropped as low as nine degrees F. With fewer EVs binding to virus particles and preventing their entry, it’s easier for it to take root. the infection.
Researchers hope to use this information to boost immunity or treat upper respiratory tract infections. The researchers also noted that masks can help keep the inside of the nose warm.