Varicella Zoster Virus Alters Expression of Cell Adhesion Proteins in Human Perineurial Cells via Interleukin 6

BACKGROUND: In temporal arteries (TAs) from patients with giant cell arteritis, varicella zoster virus (VZV) is seen in perineurial cells that surround adventitial nerve bundles and form the peripheral nerve-extrafascicular tissue barrier (perineurium). We hypothesized that during VZV reactivation from ganglia, virus travels transaxonally and disrupts the perineurium to infect surrounding cells. METHODS: Mock- and VZV-infected primary human perineurial cells (HPNCs) were examined for alterations in claudin-1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. Conditioned supernatant was analyzed for a soluble factor(s) mediating these alterations and for the ability to increase cell migration. To corroborate in vitro findings, a VZV-infected TA was examined. RESULTS: In VZV-infected HPNCs, claudin-1 redistributed to the nucleus; E-cadherin was lost and N-cadherin gained, with similar changes seen in VZV-infected perineurial cells in a TA. VZV-conditioned supernatant contained increased interleukin 6 (IL-6) that induced E-cadherin loss and N-cadherin gain and increased cell migration when added to uninfected HPNCs; anti-IL-6 receptor antibody prevented these changes. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 secreted from VZV-infected HPNCs facilitated changes in E- and N-cadherin expression and cell migration, reminiscent of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition, potentially contributing to loss of perineurial cell barrier integrity and viral spread. Importantly, an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody prevented virus-induced perineurial cell disruption.