Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis

Flaviviruses are capable of causing a myriad of diseases in humans, including viral encephalitis. This condition involves complex interactions between the virus, resident cells of the central nervous system and leukocytes recruited to the brain. We reviewed the mechanisms underlying leukocyte recrui...

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Main Authors: Emily Slowikowski, Céleste Willems, Pedro Elias Marques
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1650903/full
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author Emily Slowikowski
Céleste Willems
Pedro Elias Marques
author_facet Emily Slowikowski
Céleste Willems
Pedro Elias Marques
author_sort Emily Slowikowski
collection DOAJ
description Flaviviruses are capable of causing a myriad of diseases in humans, including viral encephalitis. This condition involves complex interactions between the virus, resident cells of the central nervous system and leukocytes recruited to the brain. We reviewed the mechanisms underlying leukocyte recruitment during flavivirus-induced encephalitis with a focus on the role of various chemoattractants and adhesion molecules. We discuss how these molecules orchestrate the migration of peripheral leukocytes into the brain parenchyma and how neurotropic flaviviruses induce this process. Moreover, we discuss evidence of leukocytes both controlling viral propagation and contributing to neuropathology, which poses a challenge for therapy development. This review summarizes our current understanding of the mechanisms behind leukocyte recruitment during encephalitis, addresses the gaps that remain in the field, and presents opportunities for therapeutic targeting unveiled by recent research on flaviviral encephalitis.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1664-3224
language English
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-06e27dabcd9b4939926439a24e6a58862025-08-22T05:26:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16509031650903Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitisEmily SlowikowskiCéleste WillemsPedro Elias MarquesFlaviviruses are capable of causing a myriad of diseases in humans, including viral encephalitis. This condition involves complex interactions between the virus, resident cells of the central nervous system and leukocytes recruited to the brain. We reviewed the mechanisms underlying leukocyte recruitment during flavivirus-induced encephalitis with a focus on the role of various chemoattractants and adhesion molecules. We discuss how these molecules orchestrate the migration of peripheral leukocytes into the brain parenchyma and how neurotropic flaviviruses induce this process. Moreover, we discuss evidence of leukocytes both controlling viral propagation and contributing to neuropathology, which poses a challenge for therapy development. This review summarizes our current understanding of the mechanisms behind leukocyte recruitment during encephalitis, addresses the gaps that remain in the field, and presents opportunities for therapeutic targeting unveiled by recent research on flaviviral encephalitis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1650903/fullflavivirusleukocyteencephalitischemoattractantchemokineadhesion molecule
spellingShingle Emily Slowikowski
Céleste Willems
Pedro Elias Marques
Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
Frontiers in Immunology
flavivirus
leukocyte
encephalitis
chemoattractant
chemokine
adhesion molecule
title Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
title_full Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
title_fullStr Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
title_full_unstemmed Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
title_short Leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus-induced encephalitis
title_sort leukocyte recruitment in flavivirus induced encephalitis
topic flavivirus
leukocyte
encephalitis
chemoattractant
chemokine
adhesion molecule
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1650903/full
work_keys_str_mv AT emilyslowikowski leukocyterecruitmentinflavivirusinducedencephalitis
AT celestewillems leukocyterecruitmentinflavivirusinducedencephalitis
AT pedroeliasmarques leukocyterecruitmentinflavivirusinducedencephalitis