89 / 2024-10-26 00:05:17

Mitigates Japanese Encephalitis Virus-Induced Brain Tissue Injury by Modulating Microglial Polarization

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen causing severe encephalitis in humans and animals, lacking effective antiviral treatments. Microglial cells, the resident immune cells of the brain, play a pivotal role in the neuroinflammatory response during JEV infection. Dysregulated activation of microglia leads to excessive production of pro-inflammatory factors, contributing to brain tissue damage and neurological deficits.
Our research aims to explore the role of calcitriol (active vitamin D₃) in JEV infection to promote the health of animals. By modulating the activation state of microglial cells, calcitriol can alleviate neuroinflammation and brain tissue damage caused by JEV infection. This immunomodulatory strategy holds potential therapeutic value for humans and can also be applied by supplementing animal feed with calcitriol to enhance immune resilience in animals, preventing and controlling JEV infection. Ensuring animal health through feed-based calcitriol supplementation can help reduce the risk of disease transmission, support ecosystem balance, and ultimately achieve holistic health for humans, animals, and the environment.