The role of human rhinovirus in immunology, COPD, and corresponding treatments

Abstract

The common cold is most often a result of human rhinovirus (HRV) infection. Common cold symptoms including rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction frequently occur during HRV infection of the upper respiratory tract. Conversely, HRV may also infect the epithelial cells of the lower respiratory tract. Symptom severity associated with HRV infection ranges from mild to potentially serious depending on a person’s susceptibility and pre-existing condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. An over active host immune response is believed to be the primary contributor to HRV pathogenesis. Enhanced activity of various host cell cytokines and granulocytes mediate specific cellular pathways inducing many of the symptoms associated with HRV infection. There are over 100 serotypes of HRV which can be further categorized based on the specific characteristics of each type. The two main categories of HRV consist of the major and minor groups. The unique host cell receptor is the distinguishing factor between these two groups. Yet, these viruses may also differ in mechanism of infection and replication. Due to the high frequency of hospital and clinical visits and the corresponding economic burden, novel therapies are of interest. Several different treatment options varying from herbal remedies to anti-viral drugs have been studied. However, the vast number of HRV serotypes complicates the progress of developing a universal treatment for attenuating HRV infection.