Studying cellular fats reveals how to protect cells from the common cold

Studying cellular fats reveals how to protect cells from the common cold

Studying cellular fats reveals how to protect cells from the common cold

Key points

  • Research identifies way to stop cold viruses hijacking cells
  • The RV-A1b cold virus causes nearly 500 changes in fats in cells
  • Analysis of fat molecules has led to identifying three potential drug targets that could help stop infections by the common cold
  • Analysing fats through lipidomics could lead to many new treatments for different diseases

As temperatures drop and the sniffles start, take hope; research published this summer suggests a new approach to protect ourselves from the common cold. By analysing changes to the make-up and types of cellular fat molecules in cells as they are infected by the cold virus, the research identified three chemicals that point to those that could be developed into a new type of anti-cold drug that could actually stop the infection in its tracks.

The Babraham Institute research, led by Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Institute, used a technique called lipidomics to examine the many different fat molecules, called lipids, which are found in all cells. By partnering with scientists at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, the researchers identified close to 500 (493) changes to the lipids within human cells as they are being infected by the cold virus. The team have used these insights to select inhibitors that can prevent key changes to the lipid makeup of cells. This reduced virus replication and therefore limited further infection by the cold virus.

Colds are caused by viruses which need to enter our cells and hijack their biological systems. The hijacked cells make more viruses and eventually die releasing the viruses to infect other cells and spread between people. Cold viruses typically attack cells in the nose, throat and lungs and our body’s response to this is what causes all the classic cold symptoms.

This current research focuses on a virus called rhinovirus, the most common cause of colds (30-80% of cases). There are around 160 different rhinoviruses that cause colds in humans, this study focuses on one, called RV-A1b, but the team believe that the same approach could easily be applied to other viruses too. Statistics on cold infections are hard to come by, but an adult typically gets between four and six colds per year. In total these viruses account for around 4 in 10 sick days from work.

Fat molecules (lipids) are essential components of all cells with as many as 20,000 distinct fat molecules in our cells. One of their most important uses is to form the outer membrane of each cell as well as the membranes that encase different parts of cells. Certain lipids also play an important role in how cells organise themselves and respond to their surroundings through lipid-based signalling systems. As such, lipids are a complex and varied part of cells but their significance in health and disease has often been overlooked.

In cells, proteins behave like molecular machines, carrying out specific tasks and driving change in the cell. Lipids have mainly been thought of having a structural role, so their importance in diseases has often been overlooked. The molecular differences between lipids and proteins also mean it is harder to study the lipids in a cell that the genes or the proteins. The required lipidomics techniques have only been developed relatively recently so it is now becoming possible to examine lipids to assist in understanding ageing, health and disease. The hope is that lipid analysis may provide new insights into the treatment of a range of previously untreatable diseases, including the common cold.

The paper’s first author, An Nguyen, a member of the Signalling research programme at the Babraham Institute, said: “Our results show an unexpected and remarkable complexity of lipid changes in response to rhinovirus infection. We found changes in both the types of lipids found in cells as well as in the length and structure of the fatty acid chains that are a critical part of all lipid molecules. These discoveries have helped us to identify key pathways that represent potential anti-viral drug targets and have demonstrated the potential of lipidomics as a means to discover new treatments.”

The study’s senior scientist, Professor Michael Wakelam, said: “We’ve seen fantastic progress in the study of genes and proteins over recent decades and this has had some major impacts on our understanding of human biology, health and ageing. Yet, lipids represent a phenomenally complex and important component of cells that we are still only beginning to understand. There are many more discoveries to be made with the help of lipidomics and it has great potential to change what we know about our own cells.”
 
Notes to Editors
Publication reference
Nguyen, A., Guedan, A., Mousnier, A., Swieboda, D., Zhang, Q., Horkai, D., Le Novere, N., Solari, R. and Wakelam, MJO. Host lipidome analysis during rhinovirus replication in human bronchial epithelial cells identifies potential therapeutic targets. Journal of Lipid Research
https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.M085910
 
Research funding
This research was supported by funding from the BBSRC and the MRC. Use of the Institute’s Lipidomics and Bioinformatics facilities was supported by the Institute’s Core Capability Grant from the BBSRC.
 
Press contact
Dr Louisa Wood, Institute Communications Manager
louisa.wood@babraham.ac.uk, 01223 496230
 
Image description:
Image: Shutterstock/Subbotina Anna (164433818)
 
Affiliated authors (in author order):
An Nguyen, Wakelam group, Signalling research programme
Qifeng Zhang, Previous Head of the Institute’s Lipidomics Facility
Michael Wakelam, Institute Director and Group Leader, Signalling research programme
 
About the Babraham Institute
The Babraham Institute undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The Institute is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through an Institute Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities.