Asymptomatic herpes simplex virus brain infection elicits cellular senescence phenotypes in the central nervous system of mice suffering multiple sclerosis-like disease
Journal
Communications Biology
ISSN
2399-3642
Date Issued
2024
Author(s)
Verónica Villalobos
Mónica A. Farías
Ma. Andreina Rangel-Ramírez
Enrique González-Madrid
Areli J. Navarro
Javier Carbone-Schellman
Angélica Domínguez
Alejandra Alvarez
Claudia A. Riedel
Susan M. Bueno
Alexis M. Kalergis
Mónica Cáceres
Pablo González
Type
journal-article
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) in animals that parallels several clinical and molecular traits of multiple sclerosis in humans. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection mainly causes cold sores and eye diseases, yet eventually, it can also reach the CNS, leading to acute encephalitis. Notably, a significant proportion of healthy individuals are likely to have asymptomatic HSV-1 brain infection with chronic brain inflammation due to persistent latent infection in neurons. Because cellular senescence is suggested as a potential factor contributing to the development of various neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis, and viral infections may induce a premature senescence state in the CNS, potentially increasing susceptibility to such disorders, here we examine the presence of senescence-related markers in the brains and spinal cords of mice with asymptomatic HSV-1 brain infection, EAE, and both conditions. Across all scenarios, we find a significant increases of senescence biomarkers in the CNS with some differences depending on the analyzed group. Notably, some senescence biomarkers are exclusively observed in mice with the combined conditions. These results indicate that asymptomatic HSV-1 brain infection and EAE associate with a significant expression of senescence biomarkers in the CNS.
Cite this document
Duarte, L. F., Villalobos, V., Farías, M. A., Rangel-Ramírez, Ma. A., González-Madrid, E., Navarro, A. J., Carbone-Schellman, J., Domínguez, A., Alvarez, A., Riedel, C. A., Bueno, S. M., Kalergis, A. M., Cáceres, M., & González, P. A. (2024). Asymptomatic herpes simplex virus brain infection elicits cellular senescence phenotypes in the central nervous system of mice suffering multiple sclerosis-like disease. Communications Biology, 7(1), 811. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06486-x