The Secret Cold Fighter Hiding in Plain Sight

Every winter, it feels like colds are everywhere—on doorknobs, in classrooms, on airplane armrests. Yet some people barely sniffle while others end up miserable for days. Emerging research from Ellen Foxman, who began her postdoctoral work at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) in 2010, revealed a surprising reason: The way the cells inside your nose react to the cold virus may decide whether you get sick at all. (1)

Nasal immunity: your built-in antiviral shield

Rhinoviruses, the most common cause of colds, usually enter through the nose and latch onto the cells that line your nasal passages. Those cells are not just passive tissue; they act like an early warning immune system. When they detect a virus, they release proteins called interferons, which signal nearby cells to turn on antiviral defenses and make the environment hostile to viral replication. (2)

In recent work using nasal “organoids”—lab grown cells that mimic the human nasal lining—researchers showed that a rapid interferon response can keep infection to a tiny fraction of cells and prevent noticeable symptoms. When scientists experimentally blocked this interferon pathway, the virus spread aggressively, infecting many more cells. Other studies have also found that robust interferon production in airway epithelial cells is key to limiting rhinovirus replication and supporting a healthier outcome. (3)

When defenses falter

When the antiviral response is delayed or suppressed, the story changes. As viral replication increases, the nasal lining can switch from a mostly protective interferon response to a more inflammatory pattern driven by pathways such as NF κB and NLRP1. This shift ramps up the production of inflammatory molecules and mucus, contributing to congestion, a runny nose, and, in susceptible people, even breathing difficulties. (4)

Several factors may influence which path your body takes. Prior viral infections can temporarily “prime” the nasal epithelium, leaving interferon stimulated genes more active and ready to respond quickly to a new invader. On the other hand, cooler air—typical of winter months—can weaken the local interferon response and give rhinoviruses a better foothold. Chronic exposure to pollutants or cigarette smoke may further skew the balance toward a stronger, less protective inflammatory response, increasing the risk of more severe symptoms when you do catch a cold. (5)

What does this mean for cold prevention?

This science doesn’t replace basic prevention measures like handwashing, sleep, hydration, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. But it does highlight that your nasal passages are a critical frontline, not just an entry point. Maintaining a robust immune system through optimum vitamin D and zinc levels, and adding vitamin C at the onset of cold symptoms, can help reduce cold symptoms and/or duration.

Other prevention measures include avoiding smoke, minimizing exposure to pollution when possible, and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, which can help your built in antiviral systems work more efficiently. (6,7,8)

As researchers continue to map how nasal cells sense viruses and decide between antiviral and inflammatory responses, new strategies may emerge—such as therapies that boost local interferon activity or target inflammatory pathways, like the NLRP1–IL 1 axis. For now, the takeaway is clear: the battle against the common cold often starts—and sometimes ends—right inside your nose. (9)

References

1. Why the same cold can be a sniffle for some and a crisis for others. (2026, January 19). Yale News. https://news.yale.edu/2026/01/19/why-same-cold-can-be-sniffle-some-and-crisis-others 
2. Cell Press. (2026, January 19). Where the common cold is stopped before it starts. SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/where-the-common-cold-is-stopped-before-it-starts/
3. Cell Press. (2026, January 22). Why some people get bad colds and others don’t. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122074702.htm
4. Nasal passage cell response to common cold virus determines sickness severity. (2026, January 19). Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. https://www.genengnews.com/topics/infectious-diseases/nasal-passage-cell-response-to-common-cold-virus-determines-sickness-severity/
5. Ganjian, H., Rajput, C., Elzoheiry, M., & Sajjan, U. (2020). Rhinovirus and Innate Immune Function of Airway Epithelium. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 10, 277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00277
6. Becker, T. M., Durrani, S. R., Bochkov, Y. A., Devries, M. K., Rajamanickam, V., & Jackson, D. J. (2013). Effect of exogenous interferons on rhinovirus replication and airway inflammatory responses. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 111(5), 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2013.07.029
7. Houser, A. (2024, October 9). Does vitamin D work for colds? GoodRx Health. https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/vitamin-d-deficiency/vitamin-d-and-colds
8. Keck Medicine of USC. (2017, January 4). The pros and cons of taking zinc for a cold. Keck Medicine of USC. https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-taking-zinc-for-a-cold/
9. Acosta, P. L., Byrne, A. B., Hijano, D. R., & Talarico, L. B. (2020). Human Type I Interferon Antiviral Effects in Respiratory and Reemerging Viral Infections. Journal of immunology research, 2020, 1372494. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1372494

Written by Brooke Lounsbury