Virus-induced neuronal apoptosis as pathological and protective responses of the host.
Extensive efforts have been made to elucidate mechanisms by which viruses induce apoptosis in cultured neuronal cells. However, little is yet understood about the mechanisms of neuronal apoptosis in vivo as well as interpretations of this active host response. Here we review recent advances toward understanding these topics. The c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase cascade may be an important apoptotic mediator in virally infected neurons, which comes in focus as a therapeutic target for protecting neurons from death. A novel concept can be proposed that virus-induced neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system may represent a pathological host response, while that in the peripheral counterpart, especially olfactory receptor neurons, may mediate a protective host response.
Mori
Isamu
I
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Research Center for Infectious Disease, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Aichi 480-1195, Japan. isamor@aichi-med-u.ac.jp
Nishiyama
Yukihiro
Y
Yokochi
Takashi
T
Kimura
Yoshinobu
Y
D017209:Apoptosis; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*