Acta neuropathologica
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Acta neuropathologica · Aug 2015
Capillaries in the olfactory bulb but not the cortex are highly susceptible to virus-induced vascular leak and promote viral neuroinvasion.
Viral neuroinvasion is a critical step in the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis. Multiple mechanisms of neuroinvasion have been identified, but their relative contribution to central nervous system (CNS) infection remains unclear for many viruses. In this study, we examined neuroinvasion of the mosquito-borne bunyavirus La Crosse (LACV), the leading cause of pediatric viral encephalitis in the USA. ⋯ Analysis of OB capillaries demonstrated specific alterations in cytoskeletal and Rho GTPase protein expression not observed in capillaries from other brain areas such as the cortex where leakage did not occur. Collectively, these findings indicate that LACV neuroinvasion occurs through hematogenous spread in specific brain regions where capillaries are prone to virus-induced activation such as the OB. Capillaries in these areas may be "hot spots" that are more susceptible to neuroinvasion not only for LACV, but other neurovirulent viruses as well.