Possible Mechanisms Explaining the Association between Zika Virus and Guillain-barre Syndrome: An Immunological Approach | Bentham Science

摘要

After the outbreak in French Polynesia, Zika virus (ZIKV) explosive pandemic occurred in2015, reports that ZIKV was linked to other diseases, especially neurological complications such asGuillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), also burst in almost every continent, thereby turning into aninternational concern. In South America, the highest incidence occurred in Venezuela withapproximately 680 cases of GBS after ZIKV infection. Currently, the main roots of this associationremain unknown. In this regard, it is thought that the immune system plays a central role in suchassociation through the host protection or even improving ZIKV establishment and progression. Nonneutralizingauto-antibodies, the complement system, self-reactive T cells, inflammation, the “cytokinestorm”, prior exposures to other arboviruses such as dengue virus and chikungunya virus, the age andgenetic susceptibility of the patient, and the biology of the vector are the main determinant factors,which perhaps, are involved in the pathological relationship: ZIKV and GBS. On the other hand, moremultidisciplinary studies are required to provide means to develop effective therapeutics against thisnew global health threat that represents an emerging danger that can increase again and trigger otherneurological disorders.