The protective role of Mertk in JEV-induced encephalitis by maintaining the integrity of blood-brain barrier.

ABSTRACT: Japanese encephalitis is an acute infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by neurotropic Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). As a member of TAM (Tyro3, Axl and Mertk) family, Mertk has involved in multiple biological processes by engaging with its bridging ligands Gas6 and Protein S, including invasion of pathogens, phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, inflammatory response regulation, and the maintenance of blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, its role in encephalitis caused by JEV infection has not been studied in detail. Here, we found that Mertk^-/- mice exhibited higher mortality and more rapid disease progression than wild-type mice after JEV challenge. There were no significant differences in viral load and cytokines expression level in peripheral tissu

SUBMITTER: Luo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11401310 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature