Tuesday, February 9, 2010
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Save

Drug may dampen body's deadly response to flu

(U.S. News and World Report) UPDATED 2009-01-23
Scientists may have identified a drug that can help dampen part of the body's immune response so infections can be fought without a resulting "overkill" that can lead to a person's death. In a recent study of mice, researchers injected the compound sphingosine analog AAL-R directly into the lungs of mice infected with a flu virus. The compound lessened the animals' cytokine response, a common immune reaction that can be so severe that it causes the lungs to fill with infection-fighting cells, leading to death. Scientists say their findings may one day offer new treatment options for people suffering from influenza and bird flu.   Read full story >
See all Cold & Flu News
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Was this helpful? Yes
  • Save

People who read this also read...