New discovery could help protect against influenza
A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.
A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in 韩国裸舞鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the 韩国裸舞 Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.
Beta-glucan is found in all fungi, including mushrooms and yeast, as well as grains like oats and barley. The scientists discovered that a unique structure of this component can boost defences against pathogens.
While most research focuses on stopping the virus from replicating, this study explored how to regulate the body鈥檚 immunity to infection, a concept known as 鈥渄isease tolerance.鈥� The researchers discovered that beta-glucan significantly enhanced flu survival rates by modulating immune responses and preventing severe lung inflammation, a common cause of fatality.
These results, published in highlight beta-glucan as a promising therapy for influenza and other emerging viral pathogens, said the scientists, adding future research will explore whether the findings can be applied to humans.
鈥淚t is remarkable how beta-glucan can reprogram certain immune cells, such as neutrophils, to control excessive inflammation in the lung,鈥� said first author Nargis Khan, who conducted this research as a postdoctoral fellow at 韩国裸舞 and is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary.
鈥淣eutrophils are traditionally known for causing inflammation, but beta-glucan has the ability to shift their role to reduce it,鈥� added co-first author Kim Tran, who recently completed her Ph.D. at 韩国裸舞.
Rebalancing the immune system
Most flu-related deaths aren't caused by the virus itself, but by an overreaction of the immune system, said the researchers. This suggests the true danger lies in the host鈥檚 own immune response. However, how the immune system becomes so imbalanced remains poorly understood.
鈥淏eta-glucan is found in the cell walls of all fungi, including some that live in and on our bodies as part of the human microbiome,鈥� explained Divangahi. 鈥淚t is tempting to hypothesize that the levels and composition of fungi in an individual could influence how their immune system responds to infections, in part because of beta-glucan.鈥�
With flu season underway and the looming threat of bird flu (H5N1), developing effective therapeutic strategies for respiratory diseases is more critical than ever, he added.
The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
About the study
鈥溾�� by Nargis Khan, Kim Tran and Maziar Divangahi et al., was published in Nature Immunology.
