Husna, Amity University Kolkata
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common contagious virus that is sexually transmitted by oral-to-oral contact and causes infection in or around the mouth known as oral herpes and it also causes infection in the genital region known as genital herpes.
A current study has shown that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection can spread to the fetal brain during pregnancy and cause lifelong neurodevelopmental disabilities such as cognitive dysfunction, dementia, nd learning disabilities. As the human foetal tissue can’t be accessed easily, hence the researchers generated three different models for cell-based neurodevelopmental disorders by preparing a 2-D layer of cells and a 3D brain-like structure. Generated by genetically reprogramming specialized adult cells, these models are based on human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
It was seen that the HSV-1 infection impaired the production of new nerve cells and the infection in neural stem cells derived from hiPSCs resulted in activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic pathway which can initiate programmed cell death. Moreover, HSV-1 infection can hinder the ability of hiPSC-derived neural stem cells to convert into mature nerve cells through a process called neuronal differentiation which causes abnormalities in brain structure. The 3D model showed that HSV-1 infection can activate non-neuronal cells called microglia, accompanied by the activation of harmful inflammatory molecules, such as TNF-a, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-4.
According to these findings, a new therapeutic way can be developed for targeting the site where viruses reside in case of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Also read: Intracellular transfer of Vax1
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Very clearly explained. Great content Husna! ❤