Inhibiting influenza's immunopathology

Although a host of companies are pursuing sphingosine 1-phosphate as a target in cancer and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, a team at The Scripps Research Institute may have found new therapeutic real estate for S1P's receptor: lowering cytokine-related pulmonary tissue damage in influenza. The finding could lead to the development of combination therapies that treat the virus while managing the risk of infection-associated immunopathology.

Upon influenza infection, an immune response is triggered when T cells and dendritic cells attack virus-infected cells. This causes the release of cytokines and chemokines that attract leukocytes and macrophages to the site of infection. The reaction can lead to a cytokine storm and result in tissue damage and a potentially fatal immune reaction...