The Role of Cellular Immune Responses on Chikungunya Virus Infection-Induced Arthritis

The mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya has been emerging in new parts of the world in the last decade and has resulted in many new infections and increasing the number of people at risk. Infection with Chikungunya results in Chikungunya fever and possibly the development of arthritis induced by the infection. While the responses of the immune system against Chikungunya infection are not yet fully understood, it has been observed that a CD8 + T cell response is important for viral clearance and protection. Evidence suggests that the arthritis-like symptoms are a result of inflammatory responses of the immune system in the joint tissues where the virus replicates. It is not understood why these symptoms sometimes develop into chronic arthralgia, but it is thought that this may be caused by macrophages infiltrating the joint tissue and resulting in a persistent inflammatory state. Data also implies that inflammation in the joints induces bone erions, which also contribute to arthralgias and arthritis. Since the mechanisms behind the Chikungunya infection-induced arthritis are not yet fully understood, additional efforts should be made to fully comprehend them which also may lead to valuable information on how to eradicate the virus.