Chikungunya virus persists in joint-associated macrophages and promotes chronic disease.

ABSTRACT: Arthritogenic alphaviruses including chikungunya, Mayaro, and Ross River viruses cause long-lasting musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. However, mechanisms driving chronic disease remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated joint-associated tissues in alphavirus-infected mice at a late stage of infection. Utilizing scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and flow cytometry we identified an accumulation of inflammatory macrophages in joint-associated tissues with elevated Tnf, Nlrp3, Il1b, and H2-Aa expression, and these cells harbored CHIKV RNA. Moreover, we identified an accumulation of CD4⁺ T cells in joint-associated tissues, which express Ifng. Depletion of CD4⁺ T cells diminished MHC-II expression on joint macrophages, highli

SUBMITTER: Zarrella KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12270208 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature