Dive into the intriguing intersection of virology and neuroscience as we explore how the Influenza A Virus’s PB1-F2 protein impacts mental health by disrupting synaptic plasticity in the brain’s hippocampal dentate gyrus.
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Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Induces Affective Disorder by Interfering Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus.
Wang et al., Mol Neurobiol 2024
<!– DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04107-6 //–>
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-024-04107-6
This study explores the impact of PB1-F2, a virulence factor of the influenza A virus (IAV), on the central nervous system (CNS), particularly focusing on its effects in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of mice. The research highlights a novel role of PB1-F2 in inducing anxiety and depression-like behaviors without affecting learning performance. Through experiments involving the injection of PB1-F2 into the DG, the study identifies several potential PB1-F2 binding proteins that suggest neural development as the most impacted function. Morphological and biochemical analyses reveal that PB1-F2 disrupts cell proliferation, oligodendrocyte development, myelin formation, and synaptic plasticity in the DG. These findings underscore the significance of PB1-F2 in contributing to affective disorders following IAV infection by impairing neural development and synaptic functions. This research provides a foundational understanding for developing treatments for affective disorders triggered by IAV infections, emphasizing the importance of targeting the PB1-F2 protein and its effects on the CNS.