Cold sore virus HSV-1 reprograms brain immune cells in region-specific way
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Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus report in PLOS Pathogens that intranasal infection with herpes simplex virus type 1, the common cold sore virus, drives immune reprogramming of microglia in the brain. The changes are dominated by interferon signaling and differ by brain region, with the underlying chromatin changes concentrated in areas where virus was detected. The authors note that this reprogramming pattern resembles changes seen under known Alzheimer's disease risk factors. The team next plans to test whether these immune changes persist after the infection has been cleared, which bears on a possible link between HSV-1 and long-term neurodegeneration.
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- Medical XpressPickCommon cold sore virus may reprogram the brain's immune defenses
A CU Anschutz team reports in PLOS Pathogens (DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014684) that after intranasal HSV-1 infection, brain microglia show region-specific, interferon-dominated immune reprogramming, with the associated chromatin changes concentrated in regions where virus was detected. The authors note this reprogramming pattern resembles changes seen under known Alzheimer's disease risk factors, and will next test whether these immune changes persist after the infection clears.
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