An international team of researchers from China and the UK has uncovered a mechanism by which influenza is particularly dangerous for the elderly. The work is published in the journal PNAS.
Scientists have found that with age, the level of the protein apolipoprotein D (ApoD) increases sharply in the lungs. This protein is involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes, but when in excess, it suppresses the body's protective antiviral response. As a result, the virus reproduces more easily, and lung tissue suffers serious damage.
Analysis of human donor tissues and experiments in mice have shown that ApoD disrupts the functioning of mitochondria, the “power plants” of cells, which are necessary for the production of interferons. Interferons are a key element of the immune defense against viruses, and their deficiency makes the course of the disease more severe.
According to the authors, this mechanism explains why aging is a leading risk factor for mortality from influenza. Blocking ApoD may be a promising direction for the development of drugs that can reduce the rate of complications in elderly patients. In the context of a global aging population, the development of such protective methods could be of great importance.
