VIRAL MANIPULATION OF HOST CELL DEATH PATHWAYS: EVASION OF APOPTOSIS, PYROPTOSIS, AND NECROPTOSIS

Zainab Adenekan* and Oyindamola Akinfaderin

ABSTRACT

Host cell death pathways are designed processes programmed to maintain the immune system’s homeostasis by monitoring host-pathogen interactions, determining disease severity and cynical progression, as well as clearing of infected host cells to inhibit viral replication and dissemination. Viral adaptiveness has however enabled varied weaponization against cell death pathways to ensure continuous survival. To this end, the host's cell death mechanism consequently adjusts to maintain its balance. Apoptosis is primarily the host's preferred cell death pathways at initial immune response. Reduced tissue damage during apoptotic activation makes it the immune response mechanism in the control of infection. This limits what could eventually result in an inevitable consequence of inflammation that's usually associated with pyroptosis and necroptosis. The three major cell death pathways are explored in this paper, with focus on their morphology and viral manipulative responses to each pathway's activation. The characteristic indexes used by viruses and viral pathogens in manipulating these cell death pathways to ensure survival are also discussed.

Keywords: cell death, viral adaptiveness, inflammatory response, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis.