A microengineered 3D human neurovascular unit model to probe the neuropathogenesis of herpes simplex encephalitis
Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) caused by HSV-1 is the most common non-epidemic viral encephalitis, and the neuropathogenesis of HSE remains elusive. This work describes a 3D human neurovascular unit (NVU) model that allows to explore the neuropathogenesis of HSE in vitro. This model is established by co-culturing human microvascular endothelial cells, astrocytes, microglia and neurons on a multi-compartment chip. Upon HSV-1 infection, this NVU model exhibited HSE-associated pathological changes, including cytopathic effects, blood-brain barrier dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokines release. Besides, significant innate immune responses were observed with the infiltration of peripheral immune cells and microglial activation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed broadly inflammatory and chemotactic responses in host cells. Mechanistically, we found HSV-1 could induce severe suppression of autophagic flux in glial cells, especially in microglia. Autophagy activators could effectively inhibit HSV-1 replication and rescue neurovascular injuries, indicating the utility of this unique platform for studying neurological diseases and new therapeutics.
Authors
- Yaqiong Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9958-1295)
- Ying‐Tong Di (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5766-0198)
- Jiayue Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8508-2951)
- Rongcan Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4472-7079)
- Qi Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2316-4521)
- Jianhua Qin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5735-6436)
- Yunsong Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1844-5924)
- Lin Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6273-9140)
- Xu Dong Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9457-8003)
- Pengwei Deng
- Peng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2972-7495)
- Min Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2176-8532)
- Ying Yan
- Mengqian Zhao
Institutions
- Shanxi Agricultural University (CN)
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Kunming Institute of Botany (CN)
- Guiyang Medical University (CN)
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (CN)
- Kunming Institute of Zoology (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (IN)
- Suzhou Research Institute (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-04-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59042-4
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 12.19
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- University of Science and Technology of China
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences