a-model-for-epilepsy-infectious-etiology-using-theiler-s-murine

A Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus

One of the main causes of epilepsy is an infection of the central nervous system (CNS); approximately 8% of patients who survive such an infection develop ...

University of Utah

Neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2) cells are a glial cell type tiled throughout the gray and white matter of the central nervous system (CNS). NG2 cells are known for their ability to differentiate into oligodendrocytes and are commonly referred to as oligodendrocyte precursor cells. However, recent investigations have begun to identify additional functions of NG2 cells in CNS health and pathology. NG2 cells form physical and functional connections with neurons and other glial cell types throughout the CNS, allowing them to monitor and respond to the neural environment. Growing evidence indicates that NG2 cells become reactive under pathological conditions, though their specific roles are only beginning to be elucidated. While reactive microglia and astrocytes are well-established contributors to neuroinflammation and the development of epilepsy following CNS infection, the dynamics of NG2 cells remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated NG2 cell reactivity in a viral-induced mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Reactivity and increased proliferation of NG2 cells following central nervous system infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus.

Viral infection of the central nervous system increasingly places people at risk of developing life-threatening and treatment-resistant acute and chronic seizures (epilepsy). The emergence of new human viruses due to ongoing social, political, and ecological changes places people at risk more than ever before. The development of new preventative or curative strategies is critical to address this burden. However, our understanding of the complex relationship between viruses and the brain has been hindered by the lack of animal models that survive the initial infection and are amenable for long-term mechanistic, behavioral, and pharmacological studies in the process of viral-induced epileptogenesis. In this review, we focus on the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) mouse model of viral infection-induced epilepsy. The TMEV model has a number of important advantages to address the quintessential processes underlying the development of epilepsy following a viral infection, as well as fuel new therapeutic development. In this review, we highlight the contributions of the TMEV model to our current understanding of the relationship between viral infection, inflammation, and seizures.

Laura A. Bell

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience

University of Utah

A Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus

Laura A. Bell

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience

University of Utah

A Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience