Cholesterol find to help fight viruses

LOWERING the body's cholesterol level could help people fight viruses, Edinburgh University scientists have found.

Researchers have discovered direct links between the working of the immune system and cholesterol, and the work could open the door for using drugs that reduce levels in the fight against some infections.

Prof Peter Ghazal, from the university's division of pathway medicine, said: "What we have discovered is that a key immune hormone stimulated upon infection can lower cholesterol levels and thereby deprive viral infections of the sustenance they need to grow.

"Drugs can exist to lower cholesterol levels, but the next step would be to see if such drugs would also work to help bolster our immune systems."

It could help overcome problems posed by antibiotic resistance and improve the way the body responds to an infection.