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Microglia have a protective role in viral encephalitis-induced seizure development and hippocampal damage

Inken Waltl1, Christopher Käufer2, Ingo Gerhauser3

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|September 16, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Microglia, the brain's immune cells, are crucial for limiting viral spread and protecting against seizures and brain damage during viral encephalitis. Their depletion worsens disease outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Central Nervous System (CNS) Innate Immunity

Background:

  • Microglia are the primary immune cells in the CNS, responsible for surveillance and orchestrating immune responses.
  • The precise role of microglia in brain infections and their interaction with infiltrating immune cells like T cells remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microglia in viral encephalitis using a specific microglia-depleting agent.
  • To elucidate the impact of microglia depletion on disease progression, neuronal damage, and immune cell modulation in a viral infection model.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized PLX5622, a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor, to deplete microglia in C57BL/6 mice.
  • Infected mice with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus to model viral infection-induced epilepsy.
  • Assessed seizure occurrence, hippocampal damage, viral load, and neurodegeneration.

Main Results:

  • Microglia are essential in the early stages of infection for limiting virus distribution and persistence.
  • Depletion of microglia accelerated seizure onset and exacerbated hippocampal damage.
  • Microglia depletion led to unexpected neurodegeneration in the spinal cord.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia play a vital protective role in viral encephalitis by controlling viral spread and modulating T cell responses.
  • Microglia-T cell crosstalk is a critical component of the CNS immune response during viral infections.
  • Targeting microglia may offer therapeutic potential in managing viral brain infections.
Keywords:
HippocampusMonocytesNeuroinflammationSeizuresSpinal cordT cells

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