title: Experimental rhinovirus infection in COPD: implications for antiviral therapies.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem and will be one of the leading global causes of mortality over the coming decades. Much of the morbidity, mortality and health care costs of COPD are attributable to acute exacerbations, the commonest causes of which are respiratory infections. Respiratory viruses are frequently detected in COPD exacerbations but direct proof of a causative relationship has been lacking. We have developed a model of COPD exacerbation using experimental rhinovirus infection in COPD patients and this has established a causative relationship between virus infection and exacerbations. In addition it has determined some of the molecular mechanisms linking virus infections to COPD exacerbations and identified potential new therapeutic targets. This new data should stimulate research into the role of antiviral agents as potential treatments for COPD exacerbations. Testing of antiviral agents has been hampered by the lack of a small animal model for rhinovirus infection and experimental rhinovirus infection in healthy volunteers has been used to test treatments for the common cold. Experimental rhinovirus infection in COPD subjects offers the prospect of a model that can be used to evaluate the effects of new treatments for virus-induced COPD exacerbations, and provide essential data that can be used in making decisions regarding large scale clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunawardana
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sebastian L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: p.mallia@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Exacerbations; Respiratory viruses; Rhinovirus