MODULATION OF BRAIN INFLAMMATION DURING RABIES INFECTION BY IMMUNOSSUPPRESSIVE TREATMENTS: IONIZING RADIATION, CYCLOSPORINE AND CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE

Abstract

International audienceRabies virus is a highly neurotropic agents which invades the central nervous system (CNS) via the anterograde axonal transport. The infection is accompanied by a weak cytopathic effect but induces severe neural dysfunctions. However, the mechanisms that underly rabies pathogenesis are still poorly understood. One of the main features of rabies pathogenesis to be investigated was the central inflammatory reaction and its role in the neural and immune dysfunctions observed during rabies infection. Thus, the present paper will focus on the central nervous system (CNS) inflammation process that follows rabies virus infection, using a mouse model of infection with fixed pathogenic or non-pathogenic rabies virus strains, with emphasis on the effect of different immunosuppressive agents on the course of infection