title: Neurotropic viral infections leading to epilepsy: focus on Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus.
abstract: Neurotropic viruses cause viral encephalitis and are associated with the development of seizures/epilepsy. The first infection-driven animal model for epilepsy, the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced seizure model is described herein. Intracerebral infection of C57BL/6 mice with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus induces acute seizures from which the animals recover. However, once the virus is cleared, a significant portion of the animals that experienced acute seizures later develop epilepsy. Components of the innate immune response to viral infection, including IL-6 and complement component 3, have been implicated in the development of acute seizures. Multiple mechanisms, including neuronal cell destruction and cytokine activation, play a role in the development of acute seizures. Future studies targeting the innate immune response will lead to new therapies for seizures/epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, 3R330 SOM, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Libbey
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fujinami