RIG-I drives protective type I interferon production by glial cells in response to <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> and <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> challenge.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a rapidly progressing and often fatal infection of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by glial cell activation and potent neuroinflammatory responses. While Toll-like receptors have been well-characterized in CNS immunity, the contribution of cytosolic nucleic acid sensors such as retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) remains largely undefined. Although RIG-I is classically associated with initiating antiviral responses, including type I interferon (IFN) production, emerging evidence supports its role in sensing bacterial nucleic acids. Building upon prior findings that bacterial RNA can activate RIG-I in glial cells, we sought to determine the functional contribution of RIG-I during bacterial meningitis.

Methods

In this stu

SUBMITTER: Majithia KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669104 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature