Modulation of the cytokine network in human adult astrocytes by human herpesvirus-6A

HHV-6 infection alone had little effect on the astrocyte gene profile but strongly altered the astrocyte response to proinflammatory cytokines. Under those conditions astrocytes express higher levels of anti-inflammatory mediators including IL-10 and IL-11, chemotactic factors, growth factors and factors controlling type I interferon production. Our data suggest that HHV-6 itself does not evoke a pro-inflammatory response in astrocytes but rather triggers immune modulatory factors in the face of inflammation.