Fas/FasL-Mediated Apoptosis and Inflammation Contribute to Recovery from HSV-2-Mediated Spinal Cord Infection.

ABSTRACT: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted pathogen that causes a persistent infection in sensory ganglia. The infection manifests itself as genital herpes but in rare cases it can cause meningitis. In this study, we used a murine model of HSV-2 meningitis to show that Fas and FasL are induced within the CNS upon HSV-2 infection, both on resident microglia and astrocytes and on infiltrating monocytes and lymphocytes. Mice lacking Fas or FasL had a more severe disease development with significantly higher morbidity, mortality, and an overall higher CNS viral load. In parallel, these Fas/FasL-deficient mice showed a severely impaired infection-induced CNS inflammatory response with lower levels of infiltrating CD4+ T-cells, lower levels of Th1 cytokines and chemokines, and

SUBMITTER: Krzyzowska M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11436029 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature