Sequential transmigration of polymorphonuclear cells and naive CD3+ T lymphocytes across the blood-cerebrospinal-fluid barrier in vitro following infection with Echovirus 30

•Infection of HIBCPP cells with EV30 lead to an increased migration of PMN and naive CD3+ T lymphocytes.•T lymphocytes contribute to sequential transmigration of PMN across the BCSFB after EV30 infection.•Cytokines only partially mediate immune cell transmigration across the BCSFB during EV30 infection.•Polar cytokine secretion leads to high concentrations of IL-8, CCL20, CXCL10 and M-CSF.•IL-7 is enhanced and secreted to the apical “CSF” side following infection of HIBCPP with EV30.

Viral meningitis by non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) is a major public health burden causing fatal outcomes especially in the younger population. Strong evidence exists that the blood-cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) barrier (BCSFB) serves as an entry point for enterovirus and leucocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). Moreover, analysis of clinical CSF specimens of patients with a NPEV infection revealed a predominance of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) in the early phase and mononuclear cells in the later course of meningitis. By applying a functional in vitro model of the BCSFB consisting of human choroid plexus papilloma (HIBCPP) cells, we aimed to analyse the mechanisms of sequential migration of PMN and naive CD3+ T lymphocytes following infection with Echovirus 30 (EV30). EV30 infection led to increased transmigration of PMN and naive CD3+ T lymphocytes. Transmigration of PMN was significantly enhanced in the presence of naive CD3+ T lymphocytes, but not vice versa. The barrier function was not differentially altered under the respective conditions. Infection with EV30 led to an upregulation of CXCL3 and CXCL11 on the RNA-level. Additional analysis of cytokine secretion revealed relatively high concentrations of IL-8, CCL20, CXCL3, CXCL10 and M-CSF. Overall, there was a predominantly polar direction of cytokine secretion to the basolateral side. IL-7 was the only cytokine which was strongly secreted to the apical side and that was enhanced following EV30 infection in our model. In conclusion, this study highlights the role of the choroid plexus and cytokines in regulating leucocyte entry into the CNS in the context of EV30 infection.