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Nature Medicine 10, 1294 - 1295 (2004)
doi:10.1038/nm1204-1294
West Nile virus: crossing the blood-brain barrier
Michael S Diamond1 & Robyn S Klein1
- Michael S. Diamond is in the Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology; and Robyn S. Klein is in the Departments of Medicine, Pathology & Immunology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 USA. e-mail: diamond@borcim.wustl.edu
Abstract
A study in mice traces the path of West Nile virus into the brain. Viral replication in peripheral tissues triggers a Toll-like receptor inflammatory response that alters the blood-brain barrier (pages 1366–1373).
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses an obstacle for the entry of pathogens into the brain. Cells, proteins, viruses and bacteria find their way blocked by this specialized structure, composed of endothelial cell tight junctions and astrocyte extensions called foot processes1.
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