How rhinovirus changes airway muscles and causes lasting breathing problems
Rhinovirus, airway smooth muscle, and mechanisms of irreversible airflow obstruction
Researchers are looking at how common cold viruses change airway muscle cells and make bronchodilators less effective for people with asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses human airway tissue and airway muscle cells in the lab to see how rhinovirus (a common cold virus) alters airway muscle tightening and relaxation. Investigators expose human airway epithelial cells and airway smooth muscle to rhinovirus C15 and measure calcium signals, Rho kinase activity, cAMP levels, and bronchodilator responses. They focus on inflammatory proteins such as TFF3 released by airway epithelium and test whether blocking TFF3 or its receptors can restore bronchodilator action in human lung slices and cell co-cultures. The goal is to understand why airflow obstruction can become harder to reverse after viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with asthma, especially those who have worsening symptoms after colds or recurrent rhinovirus-triggered exacerbations, or tissue donors providing airway samples, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without airway disease or whose breathing problems are unrelated to viral triggers are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reverse virus-induced loss of bronchodilator effectiveness and reduce asthma exacerbations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown rhinovirus can increase airway hyperreactivity and early data implicate TFF3 in reducing bronchodilator responses, but targeting TFF3 is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koziol-White, Cynthia — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Koziol-White, Cynthia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.