Neuroinvasion by Oropouche virus and immunological storm: a narrative review
Keywords:
Oropouche virus, neuroinvasion, neuronal damage, immune storm, blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammationAbstract
Introduction: Oropouche is associated with neurological conditions such as meningitis, encephalitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, with mosquitoes and black flies being its main transmission vectors. Over the years, it has been confirmed that the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier, triggering an inflammatory response in the central nervous system.
Objective: To systematize current knowledge on the mechanisms of neuroinvasion and cellular alteration caused by neurotropic viruses in relation to the immune storm.
Materials and methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using publications from 2021 onwards, using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. In addition, keywords such as Oropouche virus, neuroinvasion, neuroinflammation, immune activation, and neuronal damage were applied. Thirty-two articles of interest that met the selection criteria were included. Results: Oropouche enters cells by endocytosis, based on glycoproteins, replicates in the cell cytoplasm, triggers oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell lysis. At the immunological level, it induces the uncontrolled release of cytokines and chemokines, thereby compromising the blood-brain barrier and intensifying neuronal damage. It also evades the host's immune response, preventing its destruction.
Conclusions: Oropouche is considered a public health threat, as its ability to invade the nervous system and induce an immune storm alters nervous homeostasis. Understanding these events will contribute to the design of therapeutic targets aimed at immune modulation and protection of the nervous system.
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