Alpha-Synuclein Expression Restricts RNA Viral Infections in the Brain

• Published in: Journal of virology Vol. 90; no. 6; pp. 2767 - 2782
• Main Authors: Beatman, Erica L., Massey, Aaron, Shives, Katherine D., Burrack, Kristina S., Chamanian, Mastooreh, Morrison, Thomas E., Beckham, J. David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 15.03.2016
• Subjects: alpha-Synuclein - biosynthesis; Animals; Brain - immunology; Brain - virology; Cells, Cultured; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine - immunology; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine - isolation & purification; Female; Gene Expression; Immunity, Innate; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neurons - immunology; Neurons - virology; Pathogenesis and Immunity; RNA Virus Infections - immunology; RNA Virus Infections - prevention & control; RNA Virus Infections - virology; Survival Analysis; West Nile virus - immunology; West Nile virus - isolation & purification

We have discovered that native, neuronal expression of alpha-synuclein (Asyn) inhibits viral infection, injury, and disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Enveloped RNA viruses, such as West Nile virus (WNV), invade the CNS and cause encephalitis, yet little is known about the innate neuron-sp...