Mechanisms of neuroinflammation in epilepsy linked to HHV-6 infection

Over the past decade there has been growing interest in elucidating the role of neuroinflammation in seizure generation. Several preclinical studies have revealed that infection with neurotropic viruses such as HHV-6 can trigger an inflammatory cascade involving infected CNS cells. These findings are corroborated by clinical studies, that have shown an association with HHV-6 infection and different epilepsy syndromes and have detected HHV-6 viral DNA in saliva, blood, CSF and resected epileptogenic tissue from children and adults with seizures and chronic epilepsy.

In this focused review we will analyze main clinical associations that link HHV-6 infection with seizures and proposed pathogenic mechanisms by which infection with HHV-6 can lead to a proinflammatory milieu contributing to seizure generation and in some instances later development of epilepsy.