SOUTHAMPTON, England, March 27 (UPI) -- A study by University of Southampton scientists in England has suggested a multiple sclerosis drug could reduce asthma attacks caused by the common cold virus.
The scientists found the cold virus was able to replicate at much higher levels in the lung cells of asthma patients, the BBC reported. However, they found the replication could be blocked when exposed to interferon-B, a drug used to treat MS.
The team's results were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
The research eas focused on epithelial cells taken from the surface of lungs infected with the cold virus -- aka rhinovirus.
The asthma patient cells were found to contain low levels of the interferon-B chemical messenger. The team found that treating the cells with an interferon-B drug restored the normal balance, and helped to slow the virus' spread.
Researcher Professor Donna Davies said: "The results suggest that inhaled interferon-B could be used in the treatment or prevention of rhinovirus-induced asthma attacks, thereby cutting the number of hospitalizations of asthma-sufferers during the cold season."
