Altered Synaptic Plasticity: Plausible Mechanisms Associated With Viral Infections

Abstract

Neurotropic viruses target the central nervous system through various mechanisms: they have the potential to modulate synaptic plasticity, causing cognitive impairments by blocking N-methyl d-aspartate receptors; they alter the Ca²⁺ ion-signaling pathways modulating long-term potentiation, leading to a severe inflammatory response in brain cells, increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation through mitochondria and peroxisomes. Inflammatory pathways have a key role in modulating the plasticity of neurons, linked to numerous neurological disorders. Advanced neuroimaging techniques facilitate the early diagnosis of impaired synaptic function in viral infections and neurodegenerative disorders. Here we discuss the understanding of the interplay between neurotropic viral infections and their effects on synaptic plasticity and diagnosis through neuroimaging techniques.

Plain language summary

The human brain consists of a complex network of cells called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other through chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Changes in these communication networks can cause neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Some viruses, when they infect people, can also infect the central nervous system and cause inflammation that can damage the nervous system. One way they do this is by changing the junctions between neurons, called synapses, causing impaired brain function. Multiple methods can detect these changes through imaging, such as computed tomography and MRI scans. Advances in artificial intelligence also present an opportunity for helping doctors to detect viral infections in the brain in the early stages. This review, therefore, focuses on the changes in synapses because of viral infections and may be useful for doctors to understand how changing the synapse can lead to impaired brain function.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis
• long-term potentiation
• neuroimaging
• neuronal plasticity
• neurotropic viruses
• peroxisomes

Author contributions

V Saini: conceptualization, data curation and draft preparation, and table and figures preparation; A Rani: analysis of review and editing; A Kumar: critical review and editing; K Jha: critical review and editing; S Karnati: critical review and editing; HC Jha: conceptualization, review, editing, fund acquisition and project administration.

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate their lab colleagues for their consistent discussions and advice. They acknowledge the Indian Institute of Technology Indore for providing support in the form of facilities.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research grant no. BMI/12(82)/2021, Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) project no. IGSTC/SING-2022/40/2021–22/332, and Center for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Indore grant no. IITI/CRDT/2022-23/05. The authors thank the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Government of India, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for providing financial support in the form of a fellowship to V Saini and A Rani. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.