Viruses, Vol. 13, Pages 658: Understanding the Central Nervous System Symptoms of Rotavirus: A Qualitative Review

Viruses, Vol. 13, Pages 658: Understanding the Central Nervous System Symptoms of Rotavirus: A Qualitative Review Viruses doi: 10.3390/v13040658 Authors: Arash Hellysaz Marie Hagbom This qualitative review on rotavirus infection and its complications in the central nervous system (CNS) aims to understand the gut–brain mechanisms that give rise to CNS driven symptoms such as vomiting, fever, feelings of sickness, convulsions, encephalitis, and encephalopathy. There is substantial evidence to indicate the involvement of the gut–brain axis in symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The underlying mechanisms are, however, not rotavirus specific, they represent evolutionarily conserved survival mechanisms for protection against pathogen entry and invasion. The reviewed studies show that rotavirus can exert effects on the CNS trough nervous gut–brain communication, via the release of mediators, such as the rotavirus enterotoxin NSP4, which stimulates neighboring enterochromaffin cells in the intestine to release serotonin and activate both enteric neurons and vagal afferents to the brain. Another route to CNS effects is presented through systemic spread via lymphatic pathways, and there are indications that rotavirus RNA can, in some cases where the blood brain barrier is weakened, enter the brain and have direct CNS effects. CNS effects can also be induced indirectly as a consequence of systemic elevation of toxins, cytokines, and/or other messenger molecules. Neve...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research