Melatonin inhibits Japanese encephalitis virus replication and neurotoxicity via calcineurin-autophagy pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has no specific treatment except for supportive medical care. JEV is a neurotropic virus that affects the nervous system and triggers inflammation in the brain.

Methods

Melatonin is used as a sleep-inducing agent in neurophysiology and may serve as a protective agent against neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we investigated the effects of melatonin and the critical roles of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin during JEV infection in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells.

Results

Melatonin treatment decreased JEV replication and JEV-mediated neurotoxicity. Calcineurin activity was increased by JEV infection and inhibited by melatonin treatment. Through calcineurin

SUBMITTER: Moon JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10629071 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature