Ketogenic diet restrains herpes simplex encephalitis via gut microbes

Association between dietary inflammation index and herpes simplex virus I and II: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to fill the research gap between DII and herpes simplex virus infection among adults in the US by analyzing the association between dietary inflammatory index and herpes simplex virus and to provide new ideas for herpes simplex virus prevention and treatment.

METHOD

We used data from 8636 participants in NHANES 2007-2016, which were statistically analyzed by participant baseline study, one-way analysis of variance, multiple regression equations, smoothed curve fitting, and stratified analysis.

RESULT

In the fully adjusted model, the DII high concentration group was positively associated with the prevalence of herpes simplex (1.15 (0.89, 1.48), p = 0.0027), and the results of the stratified analyses indicated that the positive association between DII and herpes simplex virus type II was stable in the population.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a positive association between DII and herpes simplex virus II in US adults, suggesting that a proinflammatory diet may be an independent risk factor for herpes simplex virus II.

Ketogenic diet in treating sepsis-related acquired weakness: is it friend or foe?

Background

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection leading to organ dysfunction. Sepsis-related acquired weakness (SAW), a critical illness closely related to metabolic disorders, is characterized by generalized sepsis-induced skeletal muscle weakness, mainly manifesting as symmetrical atrophy of respiratory and limb muscles. Muscle accounts for 40% of the body's total mass and is one of the major sites of glucose and energy absorption. Diet affects skeletal muscle metabolism, which further impacts physiology and signaling pathways. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has shown benefits in patients with a variety of neuromuscular disorders. Patients with SAW are in a hypermetabolic state and can consume approximately 1% of total body muscle mass in a day. Due to the decreased total body energy expenditure secondary to starvation, skeletal muscles enter a low metabolic state, with reduced gluconeogenesis and protein consumption and elevated levels of ketone bodies. The latest research suggests that KD may be a new strategy for SAW prevention and treatment, but its mechanism is still unclear.

Objective

Our article aims to explore the effect and mechanism of KD on SAW. And we hope that our review will inspire further research on the KD and foster the exploration of novel strategies for combating SAW.

Methods

Search medical databases and related academic websites, using keywords such as "Sepsis-related acquired weakness," "ketogenic diet," and "skeletal muscle," and select representative literature. Using the method of induction and summary, analyze the effect and mechanism of KD on SAW.

Results

Compared with early nutrition, KD has a more protective effect on SAW, but its mechanism is complex. Firstly, KD can alter energy metabolism substrates to affect SAW's energy metabolism; Secondly, KD can directly act as a signaling molecule to improve mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle and stimulate skeletal muscle regeneration signaling molecules; Thirdly, KD can affect the gut microbiota to exert anti-inflammatory effects, enhance immunity, and thus protect SAW.

Conclusion

KD has a protective effect on SAW, which includes improving energy metabolism, stimulating muscle regeneration signals, optimizing gut microbiota composition, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Effect of resveratrol on herpesvirus encephalitis: Evidences for its mechanisms of action

BACKGROUND

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-induced herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) has a high mortality rate in clinically immunocompromised patients, while recovered patients often experience neurological sequelae due to neuroinflammation. Nucleoside drugs and nucleoside analogues such as acyclovir and ganciclovir are mainly used in clinical treatment, and the emergence of resistant viral strains makes the development of new anti-herpesvirus encephalitis drugs urgent. Resveratrol is a multifunctional, plant-derived bioactive compound and its antiviral potential is attracting much attention.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the anti-HSV-1 mechanism of resveratrol in microglial cells and in the HSE mouse model.

METHODS

The antiviral effect of resveratrol on HSV-1 infection was investigated by plaque assay, virus titer, immunofluorescence, Western blot and time-of-addition assay. The influence of resveratrol on stimulator of interferon gene (STING)/Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-mediated neuroinflammation was examined by Western blot, RT-qPCR and ELISA. The interaction between resveratrol and STING/heat shock protein 90 beta (HSP90β) was evaluated by molecular modeling, co-immunoprecipitation, and drug affinity responsive target stability assay. The therapeutic effect of resveratrol on HSE was evaluated in the HSE mouse model by analyzing weight loss, neurodegenerative symptoms and histopathological scores.

RESULTS

Resveratrol inhibited the early process of HSV-1 infection, and interfered with the STING/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate HSV-1-induced neuroinflammation and microglial M1 polarization, independent of its classical target Sirtuin1. Mechanistically, resveratrol completely bound to Glu515 and Lys491 of HSP90β, thus disrupting the HSP90β-STING interaction and promoting STING degradation. Resveratrol also significantly alleviated viral encephalitis and neuroinflammation caused by HSV-1 in the HSE mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol acted as a non-classical HSP90β inhibitor, binding to the STING-HSP90β interaction site to promote STING degradation and attenuate HSV-1-induced encephalitis and neuroinflammation. These findings suggest the alternative strategy of targeting HSP90β and resveratrol-mediated inhibition of HSP90β as a potential antiviral approach.

Luteolin inhibits herpes simplex virus 1 infection by activating cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-mediated antiviral innate immunity

BACKGROUND

The successive outbreaks of large-scale infectious diseases due to virus infection have been a major threat to human health in recent decades. Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-1) is a widely-disseminated DNA virus that infects the central nervous system to cause herpes labialis, keratitis and herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE), resulting in recurrent lifelong clinical or subclinical episodes. Luteolin is a plant flavone that has been extensively used in the treatment of various human diseases, including carcinogenesis, inflammation and chronic degenerative diseases.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiviral molecular mechanism of luteolin against HSV-1 infection in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The antiviral effect of luteolin in cell lines was examined by viral plaque assay, RT-qPCR, Western blot and time-of-addition assay. The interaction between luteolin and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS) was evaluated by molecular modeling and semi-denaturing detergent agarose gel electrophoresis. The efficacy of luteolin on HSE was evaluated in the HSE mouse model by analyzing weight loss, neurodegenerative symptoms and histopathological scores. Cytokine expression and protein levels were examined by RT-qPCR, Western blot and ELISA.

RESULTS

Luteolin inhibited the early process of HSV-1 infection, without affecting the infection of acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 strains. In addition, luteolin enhanced antiviral type I interferon production and activated the cytoplasmic DNA-sensing cGAS-stimulator of interferon gene (STING) pathway. Luteolin directly bound the active substrate binding site and promoted the oligomerization of cGAS. Luteolin also inhibited HSE-related weight loss, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in mice caused by HSV-1 infection. Furthermore, luteolin enhanced type I interferon expression and stimulated the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Luteolin inhibited the post-entry process of HSV-1 by activating the cGAS-STING pathway to promote antiviral interferon production. These results provided the rationale for luteolin as a potent cGAS activator and antiviral agent.

A Narrative Review of Alternative Symptomatic Treatments for Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and -2 (HSV-2) are large, spherically shaped, double-stranded DNA viruses that coevolved with Homo sapiens for over 300,000 years, having developed numerous immunoevasive mechanisms to survive the lifetime of their human host. Although in the continued absence of an acceptable prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine, approved pharmacologics (e.g., nucleoside analogs) hold benefit against viral outbreaks, while resistance and toxicity limit their universal application. Against these shortcomings, there is a long history of proven and unproven home remedies. With the breadth of purported alternative therapies, patients are exposed to risk of harm without proper information. Here, we examined the shortcomings of the current gold standard HSV therapy, acyclovir, and described several natural products that demonstrated promise in controlling HSV infection, including lemon balm, lysine, propolis, vitamin E, and zinc, while arginine, cannabis, and many other recreational drugs are detrimental. Based on this literature, we offered recommendations regarding the use of such natural products and their further investigation.