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The roles of microglia in viral encephalitis: from sensome to therapeutic targeting
Chintan Chhatbar1, Marco Prinz2,3,4
1Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. chintan.mukeshbhai.chhatbar@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Abstract:
Viral encephalitis is a devastating disease with high mortality, and survivors often suffer from severe neurological complications. Microglia are innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma whose turnover is reliant on local proliferation. Microglia express a diverse range of proteins, which allows them to continuously sense the environment and quickly react to changes. Under inflammatory conditions such as CNS viral infection, microglia promote innate and adaptive immune responses to protect the host. However, during viral infection, a dysregulated microglia-T-cell interplay may result in altered phagocytosis of neuronal synapses by microglia that causes neurocognitive impairment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of microglia in viral encephalitis, propose questions to be answered in the future and suggest possible therapeutic targets.
Insights
Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play a dual role in viral encephalitis. While crucial for fighting infection, their interaction with T-cells can lead to neurocognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Viral encephalitis presents high mortality and severe neurological sequelae.
- Microglia are central nervous system (CNS) innate immune cells crucial for host defense.
- Microglia-CNS viral infection interplay can lead to neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted role of microglia in viral encephalitis.
- To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions.
- To propose potential therapeutic targets for managing viral encephalitis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on microglia and viral encephalitis.
- Analysis of microglia's function in immune response and neuronal interactions.
- Synthesis of current understanding and identification of therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Microglia are essential for mounting immune responses against CNS viral infections.
- Dysregulated microglia-T-cell interactions can impair synaptic function, causing neurocognitive issues.
- Microglia exhibit plasticity and diverse functions in response to viral stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Microglia are key players in the pathogenesis and outcome of viral encephalitis.
- Targeting microglia-T-cell interactions may offer novel therapeutic avenues.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate microglia's complex role in viral encephalitis.
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