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Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 01, 2025  2 days, 21 hours, 3 minutes ago

HMPV is Adapt at Viral Persistence, Hiding in Lung Neural Fibers and Reactivated by Glucocorticoid Treatments

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HMPV is Adapt at Viral Persistence, Hiding in Lung Neural Fibers and Reactivated by Glucocorticoid Treatments
Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 01, 2025  2 days, 21 hours, 3 minutes ago
HMPV News: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has emerged as a fascinating yet troubling respiratory virus, showing a remarkable ability to persist within the lungs by hiding in neural fibers. Researchers from the University of Georgia, Athens, and the University of Canberra, Australia, have collaborated to unravel the intricate mechanisms behind HMPV’s persistence and its reactivation triggered by glucocorticoid treatments. This HMPV News report delves into the groundbreaking findings and their implications for public health and clinical interventions.


HMPV is Adapt at Viral Persistence, Hiding in Lung Neural Fibers and Reactivated
by Glucocorticoid Treatments


A Silent Threat to Respiratory Health
HMPV, a global respiratory pathogen discovered in 2001, predominantly targets infants, young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. It is second only to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a leading cause of bronchiolitis. Children recovering from HMPV infections often face long-term respiratory challenges, including wheezing and asthma. This article highlights recent insights into how HMPV’s persistence within the lungs might exacerbate these conditions.
 
The study conducted by Yuru Liu, Debra L. Haas, Spencer Poore, Sanjin Isakovic, Michelle Gahan, Suresh Mahalingam, Zhen F. Fu, and Ralph A. Tripp offers a comprehensive look into the virus’s dual replication phases and its eventual migration to neural fibers in the lungs. Their work has provided pivotal evidence that HMPV’s persistence is closely linked to its ability to evade immune responses and establish latency within immune-privileged sites.
 
Investigating HMPV Persistence
Using mouse models, researchers found that HMPV initiates its replication in respiratory epithelial cells. However, as the infection progresses, the virus migrates to neuronal processes that innervate the lungs, creating a reservoir for long-term persistence. By employing advanced immunohistochemistry techniques, the team identified HMPV antigens within neural fibers even after the resolution of acute infections.
 
One of the study’s key findings is the biphasic nature of HMPV replication. Initially, the virus replicates robustly within respiratory epithelial cells, with peak activity observed around day seven post-infection. After a decline in viral activity, a secondary peak emerges later, coinciding with the virus’s infiltration of neuronal cells. These findings suggest a deliberate viral strategy to establish chronic infection by exploiting immune-privileged regions.
 
Reactivation by Glucocorticoids
The researchers explored whether HMPV could be reactivated from its latent state within neural fibers. They treated infected mice with dexamethasone, a commonly used glucocorticoid. Remarkably, the treatment led to the reappearance of viral antigens in respiratory epithelial cells, accompanied by significant viral replication.
 
This phenomenon underscores a potential clinical challenge: the use of glucocorticoids to manage respiratory inflammation might inadvertently reactivate latent HMPV, leading to renewed infections. For patients with a history of HMPV-related illnesses, glucocorticoid treatments could therefore pose unintended risks.
 
Mechanisms of Immune Evasion
HMPV’s persistence and reactivation are underpinned by sophisticated immune evasion strategies. Unlike RSV, HMPV lacks nonstructural proteins that directly inhibit type I interferon responses. Instead, the virus employs alternative methods, such as modulating STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. This suppression of antiviral signaling pathways allows HMPV to evade immune detection and establish latency.
 
Additionally, the study revealed that HMPV’s G protein interacts with host intracellular sensors, further dampening immune responses. This molecular interaction underscores the virus’s adaptability and its potential to exploit host vulnerabilities for survival.
 
Broader Implications for Respiratory Health
The discovery of HMPV’s persistence within neural fibers has significant implications for understanding respiratory diseases. Chronic infections and latent viral reservoirs could contribute to the long-term respiratory issues observed in HMPV-infected individuals. Furthermore, the study’s findings align with previous research linking severe childhood respiratory infections to the development of asthma and other chronic conditions.
 
The parallels between HMPV and RSV are particularly noteworthy. Both viruses exhibit similar clinical manifestations and persistence mechanisms, suggesting shared strategies for evading immune responses and establishing chronic infections. Insights gained from HMPV research could therefore inform broader strategies for managing respiratory viruses.
 
Clinical and Public Health Considerations
The reactivation of HMPV by glucocorticoids raises important questions about the management of respiratory diseases. Clinicians must carefully weigh the benefits and risks of glucocorticoid treatments, particularly for patients with a history of HMPV or similar viral infections. The study also highlights the need for targeted therapies that can address viral reservoirs without triggering reactivation.
 
From a public health perspective, understanding the mechanisms of viral persistence and reactivation is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies. Vaccines and antiviral treatments should aim to prevent not only acute infections but also the establishment of latent reservoirs. The findings also underscore the importance of monitoring long-term outcomes in HMPV-infected patients, especially those receiving immunosuppressive therapies.
 
Conclusion
This study marks a significant step forward in unraveling the complexities of HMPV infections. By demonstrating the virus’s ability to persist within neural fibers and reactivate under specific conditions, the researchers have shed light on the potential mechanisms driving chronic respiratory diseases. These insights could pave the way for innovative approaches to managing HMPV and similar viruses.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Virology.
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00379-09
 
 For the latest HMPV News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-can-impair-the-central-nervous-system
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/chilean-case-study-shows-that-human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-infections-can-cause-fatal-hemorrhagic-pneumonia

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/columbia-university-study-finds-that-the-phytochemical-ginkgolic-acid-can-inhibit-human-metapneumovirus-infectivity
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/emerging-novel-lineages-of-human-metapneumovirus-in-china-mark-the-start-of-2025
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/understanding-the-human-metapneumovirus-incubation-period
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-can-cause-neurologic-issues
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/scientists-from-chile-discover-that-human-metapneumovirus-infections-also-affect-both-innate-and-adaptive-intestinal-immunity
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/israeli-study-finds-that-human-metapneumovirus-uses-unique-strategy-to-escape-recognition-by-nk-cells
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/louisiana-study-finds-that-human-metapneumovirus-uses-mirnas-to-impair-immune-responses-involving-interferons
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/human-metapneumovirus-infections-on-the-rise-in-china
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/probenecid-shows-promise-against-respiratory-virus-human-metapneumovirus-hmpv
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/hmpv-human-metapneumovirus
 
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