Viruses, Vol. 12, Pages 603: Fatal Dengue Cases Reveal Brain Injury and Viral Replication in Brain-Resident Cells Associated with the Local Production of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators

Viruses, Vol. 12, Pages 603: Fatal Dengue Cases Reveal Brain Injury and Viral Replication in Brain-Resident Cells Associated with the Local Production of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators Viruses doi: 10.3390/v12060603 Authors: Salomão Rabelo Basílio-de-Oliveira Basílio-de-Oliveira Geraldo Lima dos Santos Nuovo Oliveira Paes Dengue is an arboviral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Infection by DENV most commonly results in a mild flu-like illness; however, the disease has been increasingly associated with neurological symptomatology. This association draws attention to further investigations on the impact of DENV infection in the host’s central nervous system. Here, we analyzed brain samples of three fatal dengue cases that occurred in 2002 during an outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brain tissues of these cases were marked by histopathological alterations, such as degenerated neurons, demyelination, hemorrhage, edema, and increased numbers of astrocytes and microglial cells. Samples were also characterized by lymphocytic infiltrates mainly composed of CD8 T cells. DENV replication was evidenced in neurons, microglia and endothelial cells through immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IFN-γ were detected in microglia, while endothelial cells were marked by the expression ...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research