Viral RNA and influenza viruses stimulate two different molecular pathways in which specific proteins set off chain reactions that result in two proteins called “gasdermin D” and “gasdermin E” being processed in such a way that they form membrane pores in the epithelial cells. This is according to researchers from Trinity College Dublin who have discovered some new ways that viral RNA and influenza virus are detected by human lung cells, which has potential implications for treating people affected by such viruses.

 

These pores allow the release of special agent “cytokines” charged with sparking the immune system into life, and also cause death of the cells which prevents the virus spreading.

 

Influenza viruses remain a major threat to human health and can cause severe symptoms in young, elderly, and immuno-compromised populations, leading to annual epidemics which endanger between 3 and 5 million people of severe illness and cause 290,000 to 650,000 deaths worldwide.

 

These viruses primarily target respiratory epithelial cells to replicate, where they cause cell damage and death. Scientists have become aware that these epithelial cells are not mere passive barriers, helpless to attack, but instead are vital in driving the antiviral immune response.

 

The discovery was made by PhD student Coralie Guy, in the research team of Andrew Bowie, professor of innate immunology in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology.

 

 

To assess the importance of this finding, the team suppressed the formation of the gasdermin pores to see what would happen, and this resulted in increased replication of influenza viruses, underlining how important these gasdermins are in the antiviral response.

 

The research has been published in the journal iScience.