[Pathophysiological events in the central nervous system of mice during neurovirulent influenza A virus infection]

Abstract

Influenza A/WSN/33 virus inoculated into the olfactory bulb of C57BL/6 mice selectively infects the anterior olfactory nucleus, habenular, paraventricular thalamic, and brainstem monoaminergic neurons. Infected neurons died by day 12 with perforin-mediated neuroapoptosis, that appears significant to exterminate the intracellular pathogen in the early stage of infection. In perforin-deficient mice virus infection continued for a longer period of 35 days. Activated microglial cells with overexpression of the Iba1 appeared widespread in the brain, participating in the protection, maintenance, and repair of infection-spared neurons. Macrophages accumulated in virus-infected areas to expedite the resolution of the virus infection.