Type I IFN signaling limits hemorrhage-like disease after infection with Japanese encephalitis virus through modulating a prerequisite infection of CD11b+Ly-6C+ monocytes

Background The crucial role of type I interferon (IFN-I, IFN-α/β) is well known to control central nervous system (CNS) neuroinflammation caused by neurotrophic flaviviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and West Nile virus. However, an in-depth analysis of IFN-I signal-dependent cellular factors that govern CNS-restricted tropism in JEV infection in vivo remains to be elucidated. Methods Viral dissemination, tissue tropism, and cytokine production were examined in IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice after JEV inoculation in tissues distal from the CNS such as the footpad. Bone marrow (BM) chimeric models were used for defining hematopoietic and tissue-resident cells in viral dissemination and tissue tropism. Results The paradoxical and interesting finding was that IFN-I signaling was essentially required for CNS neuroinflammation following JEV inoculation in distal footpad tissue. IFN-I signal-competent mice died after a prolonged neurological illness, but IFN-I signal-incompetent mice all succumbed without neurological signs. Rather, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice developed hemorrhage-like disease as evidenced by thrombocytopenia, functional injury of the liver and kidney, increased vascular leakage, and excessive cytokine production. This hemorrhage-like disease was closely associated with quick viral dissemination and impaired IFN-I innate responses before invasion of JEV into the CNS. Using bone marrow (BM) chimeric models, we found that intrinsic IFN-I signaling in tissue-resident cells in peripheral organs played a major role in inducing the hemorrhage-like disease because IFN-I signal-incompetent recipients of BM cells from IFN-I signal-competent mice showed enhanced viral dissemination, uncontrolled cytokine production, and increased vascular leakage. IFN-I signal-deficient hepatocytes and enterocytes were permissive to JEV replication with impaired induction of antiviral IFN-stimulated genes, and neuron cells derived from both IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice were vulnerable to JEV replication. Finally, circulating CD11b+Ly-6C+ monocytes infiltrated into the distal tissues inoculated by JEV participated in quick viral dissemination to peripheral organs of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice at an early stage. Conclusion An IFN-I signal-dependent model is proposed to demonstrate how CD11b+Ly-6C+ monocytes are involved in restricting the tissue tropism of JEV to the CNS.


Introduction
Flaviviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses transmitted principally by mosquitos and include dengue virus (DenV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and West Nile virus (WNV) [1]. Among them, JEV is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia and the Western Pacific and is spreading to previously unaffected regions such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and northern Australia [2]. Thus, it is now becoming an increasing threat to global health and welfare, with approximately 67,900 reported cases annually [2]. Japanese encephalitis (JE) is fatal in 25 to 30% of cases, mostly in infants, and a high proportion of patients who survive have serious neurological and psychiatric sequelae [3]. For this reason, JE is considered to be more fatal than WNV encephalitis, resulting in 3-5% mortality (1100 death/29,000 symptomatic infection) [4].
Although more detailed pathogenesis of JE remains to be elucidated, considerable progress has been made in human patients and murine infection models [5][6][7]. Neuron cells in the CNS are very permissive to JEV replication and are killed directly. In addition, CNS invasion by JEV causes the stimulation of microglia and glia and infiltrated leukocytes, which subsequently leads to indirect neuronal killing via a huge production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-a) and soluble neurotoxin-like mediators [8,9]. This suggests that JE is an immunopathological disease caused by uncontrolled over-activation of innate and adaptive immune cells, resulting in neurological disorders in the CNS. The adaptive immune responses, including JEV-specific T cells and virusneutralizing IgM and IgG, appear to play a role in regulating viral replication in both the peripheral tissues and CNS [10]. However, it is believed that innate immune cells play a more crucial role in the early control of JEV infection than adaptive immunity because adaptive immune responses take time to establish. Various innate immune cells including macrophages [11], dendritic cells (DCs) [7], and NK cells [12,13] are reported to control JEV replication at an early stage. In addition to their defense role, innate immune cells may also be responsible for generating pathological levels of JEV through uncontrolled over-activation. CNS infiltration and activation of peripheral leukocytes during JE have been known to cause profound damage if the reaction is excessive or inappropriate [14]. Therefore, adequate CNS infiltration and activation of innate immune cells at the periphery is considered to play a critical role in protecting hosts without tissue injury from viral encephalitis such as JE.
The activation of innate immune cells is triggered by recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) produced from invading pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of host cells, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) [15,16]. Cellular and intracellular activation of innate immune cells and the actions of type I interferon (IFN-I, IFN-α/β) via PRRs provide a first-line defense against virus infection and is known to be an essential modulator in flavivirus replication, dissemination, and neurovirulence [17,18]. IFN-I is a family of antiviral cytokines that are produced from various infected cells by recognition of flavivirus RNA intermediates through cytosolic and endosomal PRRs, such as RIG-I-like receptors (RLR) or TLRs, which signal through adaptor molecules (e.g., MAVS, TRIF, and MyD88) and transcription factors (e.g., IRF3 and IRF7) [19]. Indeed, the critical role of IFN-I and its transcription factors (IRF3, IRF5, and IRF7) has been described in flavivirus infection in vivo including WNV and DenV, but not JEV [20][21][22]. IFN-I secreted from infected cells binds in an autocrine and paracrine manner to a heterodimeric IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR1) on the surface of cells and mediates pleiotropic effects via canonical Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1/2) signaling pathway [23,24]. Phosphorylated STAT1/2 heterodimer associates with IRF-9 to form ISGF3 complexes, which results in the induction of antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs, e.g., Mx1, OAS, PKR, ISG49 [IFIT3], ISG54 [IFIT2], ISG56 [IFIT1]) through its nuclear translocation and binding to IFN-stimulated responsive elements [19]. The importance of this pathway is underscored by the vulnerability of mice deficient in IFNAR1 and its downstream factors (IFIT1, viperin, Ifi27l2a) to flavivirus infection, mostly WNV infection [25][26][27][28][29]. Similarly, the important role of IFN-I innate immune responses in controlling JEV infection is described in murine infection models using TLRs, 4-1BB, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-deficient mice [30][31][32]. Conversely, flaviviruses have also evolved various mechanisms for initiating replication in host cells by disrupting the action of IFN-I and evading IFN-Istimulated antiviral responses [33][34][35][36]. Notably, the interplay between JEV and the IFN-I system has been studied in reporter cell lines [34][35][36]. Collectively, IFN-I innate responses play a critical role in controlling JEV infection and its inhibitory roles in JEV replication have been demonstrated in several studies using reporter cell lines. IFNAR is expressed in all nucleated cells, and individual cell types may respond differentially to signaling after IFN-I binding because distinct transcriptional programs overlap in individual cell subtypes following RNA virus infection [37,38]. Therefore, although IFN-I innate responses are considered to play an important role in controlling the cell and tissue tropism of WNV and other flaviviruses [17,18], the IFN-I signal-dependent cellular factors that restrict tissue tropism (e.g., the CNS) in infection models with JEV in vivo are largely unknown.
In the present study, we examined viral dissemination and tissue tropism to the CNS of the host after JEV inoculation in distal tissues such as the footpad using IFN-I-competent (wild type) and -incompetent (IFNAR1 KO) mice. One paradoxical and interesting finding was that IFN-I signaling is essentially required for CNS neuroinflammation following JEV inoculation in the distal footpad tissues because IFN-I signal-incompetent mice all succumbed without any neurological signs. Rather, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice developed a hemorrhage-like disease. This hemorrhage-like disease, which was altered from the typical disease (e.g., encephalitis) of JEV infection, appeared to be driven by quick viral dissemination and impaired IFN-I responses before the invasion of the virus into the CNS. The intrinsic IFN-I signal in tissueresident cells was critical in limiting the tissue tropism of viral dissemination following distal JEV inoculation, and the early and higher infection of circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes at the inoculation site contributed to viral dissemination into the entire body at the early stage. Therefore, our study proposes a model of IFN-I signal-dependent cellular factors in viral tissue tropism to induce CNS neuroinflammation following distal JEV inoculation.

Ethics statement
All animal experiments described in the present study were conducted at Jeonbuk National University according to the guidelines set by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) of Jeonbuk National University and were pre-approved by the Ethical Committee for Animal Experiments of Jeonbuk National University (Permission code 2013-0028). The animal research protocol in this study followed the guideline set up by the nationally recognized Korea Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (KALAS). The live JEV Beijing-1 strain has been handled in level 2 biosafety laboratory, and the institutional bio-safety committees (IBC) of Jeonbuk National University approved all necessary experimental biosafety protocols in this study.

Cytokine ELISA
A sandwich ELISA was used to determine the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines in sera of IFN-I signalcompetent and -incompetent mice following JEV infection. ELISA plates were coated with IL-6 (MP5-20F3), TNF-α (1F3F3D4) anti-mouse Ab purchased from eBioscience, and then incubated overnight at 4°C . The plates were washed three times with PBS containing 0.05% Tween (PBST), after which they were blocked with 3% bovine serum albumin for 2 h at 37°C. The sera and standards for recombinant cytokine proteins (PeproTech, Rocky Hill, NJ) were added to the plates, which were then incubated for 2 h at 37°C. The plates were washed again with PBST, and biotinylated IL-6 (MP5-32C11) and TNF-α (MP6-XT22) Ab were added. Next, the plates were incubated overnight at 4°C, followed by washing with PBST and subsequent incubation with peroxidaseconjugated streptavidin (eBioscience) for 1 h. Color development was then performed by the addition of a substrate (ABTS) solution. Cytokine concentrations were determined with an automated ELISA reader and SoftMax Pro3.4 according to comparisons with two concentrations of standard cytokine proteins.
Complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry CBC and serum biochemistry were assessed as described previously [40]. For CBC data, whole blood collected from IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice was treated with K2EDTA to prevent clotting, and samples were immediately analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer (Nihon Kohden, Tokyo, Japan), according to the manufacturer's instructions. For the functional evaluation of liver and kidney organs, blood was collected to obtain plasma and immediately analyzed using a clinical chemistry analyzer (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Evaluation of vascular permeability
Vascular leakage in IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice was measured following JEV infection, as described elsewhere [30]. Briefly, 0.2 ml of Evans blue dye (0.5% solution in PBS) was injected into infected mice by the intravenous route at 48 h pi. After 2 h, the mice were extensively perfused with PBS via cardiac puncture of the left ventricle. Samples of liver and intestine were then harvested, and vascular permeability was evaluated by visualizing collected organs. The amount of Evans blue dye extravasated into tissues was measured by a colorimetric method. After weighing, the tissues were homogenized in 2 ml of PBS and 2 ml of 100% trichloroacetic acid (TCA; Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO) was added into the homogenate. Then the mixture was vigorously shaken for 5 min and cooled for 40 min at 4°C . After centrifugation (40 min at 800 × g), the absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 620 nm using a spectrophotometer. Data were expressed as micrograms of Evans blue dye per gram of organ tissue using a standard curve.

Histopathological examinations and immunohistochemistry
Histopathological examination was performed using various non-lymphoid and lymphoid tissues including popliteal LNs (pLNs), spleen, mesenteric LNs (mLNs), liver, intestine, and brains derived from IFN-I signalcompetent and -incompetent mice following JEV infection via the footpad route. Tissues were embedded in paraffin at 2 dpi, and 10-μm sections were prepared and stained with H&E. Following deparaffinization, tissue sections were also used for the detection of JEV Ags by staining with mAbs specific for E and/or NS1 proteins. After antigen retrieval, endogenous peroxidases were quenched by incubating the slides in 3% H 2 O 2 for 15 min. The sections were then washed with PBS for 10 min. Endogenous avidin and biotin were blocked using a SuperBlock blocking buffer according to manufacturer's instructions (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.). The sections were then washed with PBS for 4 min. Primary antibodies specific for JEV E and/or NS1 proteins were applied overnight at 4°C in a humidified chamber. After rinsing the slides in PBS, they were incubated in secondary antibody for 30 min at room temperature. After washing with PBS for 5 min, color development was achieved by applying diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) solution (Vector Laboratories) for 0.5-1 min. After washing in distilled water, the sections were counterstained with VECTOR methyl Green (Vector Laboratories), and cover-slipped using a mounting medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Sections were analyzed using a Nikon Eclipse E600 microscope (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan).
Generation of BM chimeric mice C57BL/6 (BL/6) and IFNAR1 KO mice were γ-irradiated with one dose of 950 rads. Within 12 h, the stem cells of recipient mice were reconstituted with BM cells (1.5 × 10 7 cells/mouse) from BL/6 and IFNAR1 KO donor mice, respectively. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were added to the drinking water of recipient mice for the next 10 days. Recipient mice were allowed to reconstitute their hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) population for 4 to 6 weeks. Chimerism was confirmed before experimental use. BM chimeric mice were infected with JEV (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad. The infected recipients were monitored daily for survival and neurological disorders.
Primary hepatocyte, enterocyte, and cortical neuron cells Primary hepatocyte Primary hepatocytes were isolated from IFN-I signalcompetent and -incompetent mice using a modified two-step collagenase perfusion method [30]. Mouse primary hepatocytes were then cultured using type I rat tail collagen-coated 12-well plates in William's E medium containing 10% FBS, 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 μg/ml streptomycin at 37°C in a humidified incubator. At 70-80% confluence, the primary hepatocytes were infected with JEV at different multiplicity of infection (MOI; 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0).

Primary enterocytes
Primary enterocytes were prepared using a modified method, as described elsewhere [41,42]. Small intestines were opened longitudinally and cut into small pieces (1 mm × 1 mm). After being washed, the tissues were soaked on ice for 90 min in Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ -free Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.) containing 3 mM EDTA and 1 mM DTT. The tissues were shaken vigorously to detach crypts, which were pelleted by centrifugation at 150 × g for 3 min at 4°C . The pellets were washed twice with ice-cold Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ -free HBSS and resuspended in DMEM/F12 culture medium (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, MD), which was supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 1 × insulin-transferrinselenium (Invitrogen), 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 0.25 μg/ ml amphotericin B, 1 μg/ml fibronectin, and 1 μg/ml hydrocortisone. Twenty-four-well plates were coated with collagen I and poly-L-lysine 1 h before the cells were seeded. The plates were seeded with approximately 200 to 300 organoids/cm 2 and incubated at 37°C under a 5% CO 2 atmosphere. Three days after being seeded, the cells were infected with JEV at different MOI (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0).

Primary cortical neuron cells
Primary cortical neurons were prepared from 15-day-old embryos as described previously [43]. Briefly, ganglia were treated with collagenase (1 mg/ml) for 30 min at 37°C followed by 2.5 mg/ml trypsin for 30 min at 37°C. The ganglia were then triturated with a flame-polished Pasteur pipette and filtered through a 3-20/14 Nitex filter (Tetko Inc., Elmsford, NY). Cell viability was assessed by trypan blue exclusion. Cortical neurons were seeded in 12-well poly-D-lysine/laminin-coated plates in DMEM containing 5% FBS and 5% horse serum for 24 h, and then cultured for 4 days with neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement and L-glutamine (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Primary cortical neurons were infected with JEV at different MOI (0.01, 0.1, 1.0).

In vivo detection of JEV-infected myeloid-derived cells
JEV-infected myeloid-derived cells were detected by intracellular staining for JEV NS1 Ag using cells prepared from the footpad, liver, blood, and brain. Briefly, infiltrated cells in the footpad were prepared from IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice 1 and 2 dpi by collagenase digestion of footpad tissues, and total cells including hepatocytes and infiltrated leukocytes were obtained from the liver of the mice using a modified twostep collagenase perfusion method. Peripheral blood leukocytes were also prepared by treating blood cell suspension with ammonium chloride-containing Tris buffer (NH 4 Cl-Tris) for 5 min at 37°C. Infiltrated leukocytes in the brain were prepared by collagenase digestion following vigorous perfusion via cardiac puncture of the left ventricle [30][31][32]. Cells prepared from the footpad, liver, blood, and brain were surface-stained with an antibody cocktail for CD11b, F4/80, and Ly-6C, and then intracellularly stained with mAb specific for JEV NS1 protein (JN1, Abcam), followed by APC-labeled goat (ab′)2 antimouse IgG (H + L) (Southern Biotechnology) for 30 min at 4°C. Finally, the cells were washed twice with PBS and fixed using fixation buffer. Sample analysis was performed with a FACS Calibur flow cytometer (Becton Dickson Medical Systems) and FlowJo (Tree Star) software.

Statistical analysis
All data were expressed as average ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistically significant differences between groups were analyzed using an unpaired twotailed Student's t test for ex vivo experiments and immune cell analysis. For multiple comparisons, statistical significance was determined using one-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed by the log-rank test. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. All data were analyzed using GraphPadPrism4 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA).

IFN-I signaling is required for CNS neuroinflammation following JEV inoculation in distal tissues
IFN-I signaling has been known to play a crucial role in conferring protection against various viral infections [20][21][22]. However, how IFN-I participates in viral dissemination and CNS neuroinflammation following JEV infection remains largely unknown. To test whether IFN-I signaling plays a role in inducing neurological disorders (JE) following JEV infection, IFN-I signal-competent (BL/6) and -incompetent (IFNAR1 KO) mice were infected with JEV at different doses (1 × 10 6 , 5 × 10 6 , 1 × 10 7 , and 5 × 10 7 ffu) via the intraperitoneal or footpad route for systemic or local infection, respectively. As expected, IFN-I signalincompetent mice show highly enhanced susceptibility to JEV infection, compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 1a). In contrast with IFN-I signal-competent mice, incompetent mice all succumbed to JEV infection within 6 and 7 days following JEV infection at a low dose (1 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the intraperitoneal and footpad route, respectively. Here, the interesting result was that IFN-I signal-competent mice infected with JEV (5 × 10 7 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route died through a prolonged and neurological illness that was symbolized by weight loss, distressed fur, and back hunching with postural imbalance, ataxia, and generalized tonic-clonic seizure, whereas IFN-I signal-incompetent mice all died without any neurological signs following JEV infection at different doses via the footpad route (Table 2). This result implies that while IFN-I signal-competent mice show typical JE signs of CNS neuroinflammation after JEV inoculation at the distal site, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice succumb to other fatal damages. To better understand fatal damages in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice following JEV infection, we determined the viral burden in various peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, as well as CNS tissues such as the brain and SC. IFN-I signal-incompetent mice were found to contain 10 2 -10 4 -fold increased levels of viral RNA in peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, including pLNs, spleen, mLNs, iliac LNs, BM, lung, liver, intestine, and kidney, 1, 2, and 3 days after JEV inoculation at footpad tissues, compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 1b). In contrast with peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, IFN-I signalincompetent mice showed no significant increase in the levels of viral RNA in the SC and brain, even though they contained modestly increased viral loads in CNS tissues compared with competent mice (Fig. 1c). In addition, infectious JEV was recovered at higher levels from peripheral tissues such as the spleen and liver in IFN-I signalincompetent mice than in the competent mice (Fig. 1d). However, infectious JEV was detected at levels with no significant increase in the brain of IFN-I signalincompetent mice, compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice. These data indicate that IFN-I signaling plays a crucial role in regulating viral dissemination to peripheral tissues at the early stage after the local inoculation of JEV. Conversely, our data also suggest that IFN-I signal is required to induce neurological disorders like JE as CNS neuroinflammation at the late stage (around 7−9 days) after JEV inoculation at distal sites such as the footpad.

Requirement of IFN-I signaling for CNS neuroinflammation through the restriction of JEV dissemination
To understand fatal damages and viral dissemination in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice following JEV infection, we performed several histopathological examinations and immunohistochemical studies for JEV Ags in various tissues including peripheral lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues as well as CNS tissue such as the brain. Histopathological examinations revealed that IFN-I signal-incompetent mice had a destructive architecture in peripheral lymphoid tissues, such as pLNs, spleen, and mLNs, 2 days after the footpad inoculation of JEV (Fig. 2a). Notably, the spleen of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed reduced white pulp along with the depletion of immune cells, and the size of pLNs and mLNs was considerably reduced in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. In addition, multifocal necrosis is observed in the whole liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, along with dying cells accompanied by epithelial cells of the villi falling away in the intestine. In contrast with the peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, in both IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice, there was no apparent change in pathological phenomena in the CNS tissue 2 dpi, except that some hemorrhages were observed in the brain stem and adjacent parts of the cerebellum in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. However, in histopathological examinations of IFN-I signal-competent mice at 6−7 dpi, we could find CNS neuroinflammatory reactions in brain tissues, such as some leukocyte infiltration (Fig. 2b). In addition, JEV Fig. 1 IFN-I signaling is an indispensable requirement in CNS neuroinflammation following distal JEV inoculation. a Essential role of IFN-I signaling in providing protection from JE. The susceptibility of C57BL/6 (BL/6) and IFNAR1 KO mice (n = 8-12) to JEV infection were monitored following different doses of viral inoculation (1 × 10 6 , 5 × 10 6 , 1 × 10 7 , and 5 × 10 7 ffu/mouse) via intraperitoneal and footpad routes. The survival rate was examined over 15 days. b Viral burden in the non-lymphoid and lymphoid tissues at the periphery. Following JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route, viral burden was assessed by real-time qRT-PCR at the indicated days pi in various tissues including popliteal LNs (pLNs), spleen, mesenteric LNs (mLNs), iliac LNs (iLN), bone marrow (BM), lung, liver, intestine, and kidney. c Viral burden in the CNS. Viral burden in the CNS tissues including spinal cord (SC) and brain was determined by real-time qRT-PCR using total RNA extracted from tissues. The viral RNA load was expressed by JEV RNA copy number per microgram of total RNA (n = 4). Each symbol represents the level in an individual mouse; the horizontal line indicates the mean ± SEM of each group. d Infectious JEV burden in both peripheral and CNS tissues. Following JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route, the amount of infectious JEV was determined by a focus-forming assay using PBS-homogenates of the indicated tissues. Data in the graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test Ags were more apparently detected in peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues of IFN-I signalincompetent mice compared with competent mice (Fig. 2c). We observed no significant JEV Ags in both the brains of IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice at 2 dpi (Fig. 2d). However, JEV Ags were detected in the brain of IFN-I signal-competent mice showing neurological disorders (Fig. 2e), which indicates that the JEV invasion of the CNS could be important in mice displaying neurological disorder. Taken together, these histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations support a crucial role of IFN-I signaling in eliciting CNS neuroinflammation by restricting viral dissemination to peripheral tissues following the local inoculation of JEV.

IFN-I signaling restricts hemorrhage-like diseases following JEV infection
IFN-I signal-incompetent mice displayed viral dissemination in various peripheral organs and died without CNS neuroinflammation after distal JEV inoculation. Subsequently, we decided to further explore why IFN-I signal-incompetent mice succumbed so rapidly to JEV infection without CNS neuroinflammation. To this end, we analyzed their blood chemistries. The levels of red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin were found to significantly drop in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice at 24 and 36 h pi, however, white blood cell (WBC) levels were temporarily higher at an earlier time point of 6 h pi in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 3a). In particular, the number of blood platelets in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice was persistently and markedly decreased from 24 h pi, which indicates that JEV infection caused thrombocytopenia in these mice (Fig. 3b). As a result, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice had lower hematocrit values at 24 and 36 h pi compared with competent mice. Because thrombocytopenia and hematocrit changes may be associated with the damage of major visceral organs [44,45], we checked liver and kidney functions. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, which are typical parameters for liver function, were at around 5-fold increased levels from 24 h pi in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice (Fig. 3c). These increases in ALT and AST levels were very correlated with the occurrence of thrombocytopenia at 24 h pi. Similarly, the impaired parameters for kidney function were observed in IFN-I signalincompetent mice, as shown by increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level in sera (Fig. 3d, left and middle graphs). The reduction of glucose level in sera of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice may also reflect impaired kidney function (Fig. 3d, right graph) because hypoglycemia is associated with renal failure [46], increase in glucose use [47,48], and decreasing hepatic glucose production [47,49]. The presence of thrombocytopenia and the damage of major viscera organs such as liver and kidney with fatal nonneurological disease suggested that the inoculation of JEV into the footpad might cause hemorrhage-like disease in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice [50][51][52]. Vascular leakage is a hallmark of hemorrhagic disease such as the severe form (dengue hemorrhagic fever, DHF) caused by dengue virus infection [50,51]. Therefore, we checked whether the footpad inoculation of JEV could induce increased vascular permeability in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. To assess the integrity of the vascular endothelial barrier, IFN-I signalcompetent and -incompetent mice were intravenously injected with Evans blue, a dye that preferentially binds to proteins such as albumin. Then, the extravasation of Evans blue dye into tissues was visualized in the intestine and liver following vigorous heart perfusion (Fig. 3e, f). As expected, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed increased extravasation of Evans blue dye, as shown by a greater intensity of dark blue in the intestine and liver. Notably, dispersed spots Platelet (PLT) number and hematocrits (Hct) were measured by an automated hematology analyzer and Hct was expressed as % volume occupied by RBCs. c and d Injury of liver and kidney function. Liver and kidney function was evaluated by the levels of ALT and AST in the liver (c), and the levels of BUN, creatinine, and glucose in kidneys (d) using a clinical chemistry analyzer. e and f Picture of extravasated Evans blue dye. Two days after JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route, IFN-I-competent and -incompetent mice were given 0.5% Evans blue dye solution via a tail vein. Evans blue dye extravasated into the intestine (e) and liver (f) tissues was visualized following vigorous heart perfusion. g The amount of extravasated Evans blue dye into the intestine and liver tissues. The amount of extravasated Evans blue dye was quantified by measuring the absorbance (620 nm) after homogenization and TCA-precipitation of the indicated tissues. h Picture of extravasated Evans blue dye into the brain. The extravasated Evans blue dye into the brain was visualized following vigorous heart perfusion. Data in bar graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test of Evans blue dye occurred in the entire liver tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, which indicates necrosis by JEV replication. Furthermore, we quantified the amount of Evans blue dye extravasated into liver and intestine tissues spectrophotometrically (Fig. 3g). Similarly, intestine and liver tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice were observed to contain higher levels of extravasated Evans blue dye compared with competent mice. However, dissimilar to the results derived from intestine and liver tissues, brain tissue derived from IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice showed no significantly altered extravasation of Evans blue dye. Collectively, these results support the conclusion that impairment of IFN-I signaling by the distal inoculation of JEV, such as via the footpad route, drives hemorrhagic-like diseases rather than neurological diseases.

Altered expression of TJs and adhesion molecules results in increased vascular leakage in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice
The importance of TJs and adhesion molecules in modulating the invasion of non-neural tissues after JEV infection has been described [53]. Therefore, to further understand the increase of vascular leakage in the peripheral tissue of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice following peripheral JEV inoculation, we checked the expression of TJs and adhesion molecules. The mRNA levels of TJs including claudin-1, claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 were significantly reduced in the liver and intestine of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice 2 days following footpad inoculation of JEV (Fig. 4a, b), but mRNA levels of TJs, except ZO-1, in the brain tissue were almost the same in both IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice (Fig. 4c). The expression of the adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and JAM) in the liver, intestine, and brain appeared complicated. ICAM-1 expression was observed to be higher in the liver and intestine of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice. However, JAM expression was reduced in the liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice but increased in the intestine compared with competent mice (Fig. 4d). Also, ICAM-1 expression was increased in the brain of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice but appeared to be delayed compared with other organs.
These results indicate that the expression of adhesion molecules could be differentially regulated in peripheral organs and the CNS, depending on the progression of the disease. Conclusively, no increased expression of TJs in the liver and intestine tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice supports an increase of vascular leakage in peripheral organs, and the altered expression of adhesion molecules in peripheral organs and brain may affect infiltration of leukocytes in inflamed tissues.

IFN-I signaling restrains the "cytokine storm" following JEV infection
To further understand the basis of peripheral organ damage, such as that in the liver and kidney, in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after the footpad inoculation of JEV, we measured the expression of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in various peripheral tissues including pLN, spleen, mLN, iLN, and liver, as well as in CNS tissues including the SC and brain. As a result, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed persistent and highly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL2 mRNA expression in the various tissues tested at the periphery from 24 h pi, compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 5a). Similarly, these cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and chemokines (CCL2, CXCL2) were expressed in the CNS tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice with higher levels than those of competent mice, even though the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CNS tissues were somewhat low and delayed compared with other peripheral tissues (Fig. 5b). In addition, we measured serum levels of vasoactive IL-6 and TNF-α proteins, which have been known to play an important role in inducing hemorrhagic fever and increasing vascular leakage [51,54]. As expected, the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α were increased by 5-to 60-fold from 24 h pi, in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice (Fig. 5c). The massive increase of multiple CC chemokines in sera of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice was also revealed, when we checked the levels of multiple CC chemokines in sera with CBA methods (Fig. 5d). This massive and uncontrolled production of multiple cytokines and chemokines in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after JEV footpad inoculation was coupled with renal and hepatic injury and JEV Ags staining in tissues, and suggests a picture of sepsis due to "cytokine storm".

IFN-I signal is essentially required for quick innate IFN-I responses
To better understand IFN-I innate responses in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, we measured the expression of IFN-I (IFN-α/β) mRNA in various peripheral tissues including pLN, spleen, mLN, iLN, and liver after JEV footpad inoculation. Our data revealed that the expression of IFN-α/β mRNA in the peripheral tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice increased 5 to 500 times at 48 and 72 h pi compared with the IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 6a). Similarly, the CNS tissues (SC and brain) in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice displayed a higher expression of IFN-α/β mRNA 72 h after JEV footpad inoculation than IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 6b). This implies that the ablation of the IFN-I signal did not induce blunted IFN-I production after JEV footpad inoculation and, rather, the magnitude of IFN-I (IFN-α/β) expression seemed to follow the degree of JEV replication because the replication of JEV was coupled to the expression levels of IFN-α/β. IFN-I (IFN-α/β) binds to a heterodimeric receptor (IFNAR1) and mediates downstream pleiotropic functions of the canonical JAK-STAT signaling pathway [23,24]. This stimulation results in the induction of antiviral ISGs, induction of cell surface and cytosolic PRRs in antigen-presenting cells, and the regulation of cytokine and chemokine production [19]. Therefore, we measured the induction levels of antiviral ISGs to define IFN-I innate responses in greater detail.  (Fig.  6c). Notably, RIG-I and MDA5 were induced by approximately 70-fold increased levels in the liver of IFN-I signal-competent mice at 3 dpi. Subsequently, IRF3 and IRF7 expression followed expression patterns of PRRs (RIG-I, MDA-5) in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, except for IRF3 expression in brain tissue (Fig. 6d). The expression of ISGs (ISG49, ISG54, ISG56) was observed and peaked quickly at 1 dpi in IFN-I signal-competent mice, but IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed no induction of ISG expression (Fig. 6e). Collectively, these results suggest that the impaired induction of ISG expression in the peripheral tissues, such as the liver, of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice at a very early stage was likely to contribute to the appearance of a hemorrhagiclike disease.

Intrinsic IFN-I signaling in tissue-resident cells is critical to limiting hemorrhage-like diseases following JEV infection
IFN-I signal-incompetent mice displayed hemorrhagelike disease after JEV inoculation at the distal site, and this altered disease appeared to be caused by impaired innate responses at a very early stage. However, the cell types that mainly contribute to the altered disease in , and brain (c) was evaluated by real-time qRT-PCR at the indicated days after JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/ mouse) via the footpad route. d The altered expression of adhesion molecules in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. The mRNA levels of adhesion molecule including ICAM-1 and JAM-1 were determined by real-time qRT-PCR using total RNA extracted from liver, intestine, and brain at the indicated dpi. Data in bar graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test IFN-I signal-incompetent mice remain to be defined. Therefore, we were interested in dissecting the contribution of tissue-resident cells and HSC-derived leukocytes in this process. To achieve this, we used a BM chimeric model established using IFN-I signal-competent (BL/6) and -incompetent (IFNAR1 KO) mice. Strikingly contrasting results were revealed in our BM chimeric experiments. IFNAR1 KO recipients of BL/6 WT BM cells (BL/6-KO chimera) or IFNAR1 KO BM cells (KO-KO chimera) showed the same susceptibility to JEV footpad inoculation, whereas BL/6 WT recipients of IFNAR1 KO BM cells (KO-BL/6 chimera) or BL/6 WT BM cells (BL/6-BL/6 chimera) displayed almost the same resistance to JEV infection (Fig. 7a, left graph). Furthermore, the BL/6-KO chimera died without neurological disorders like the KO-KO chimera, but the KO-BL/6 chimera succumbed to neurological disorders that showed higher frequencies than the BL/6-BL/6 chimera (Fig. 7a, right graph). To better understand this contrasting result in the BM chimeric experiments, we checked the viral load in various peripheral tissues including pLN, spleen, liver, and intestine, as well as in CNS tissues such as the brain. In support, similar to KO-KO chimera, BL/6-KO chimera showed markedly increased loads of JEV in various peripheral tissues 48 h pi, as compared with both KO-BL/6 and BL/6-BL/6 chimeras (Fig. 7b). No significant differences in JEV loads in peripheral tissues were observed between KO-KO and BL/ 6-KO chimeras. However, both BL/6-KO and KO-KO chimeras showed no significantly increased loads of JEV in CNS tissues, such as the brain, compared with those of KO-BL/6 and BL/6-BL/6 chimeras, which indicates , and brain at the indicated days after JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route. c Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-a. d Enhanced production of CC chemokines in sera of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by cytokine ELISA using sera collected from IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice. The levels of CC chemokines including CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, and CCL7 in sera were determined by cytokine bead array. Data in the graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test that tissue-resident cells play an important role in disseminating JEV into the peripheral lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues after JEV footpad inoculation. Next, we checked the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the peripheral lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues as well as in CNS tissues, to further characterize the disease induced in BM chimeric models after JEV footpad inoculation. BL/6-KO chimera showed highly enhanced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL2) in the peripheral tissues, as shown in KO-KO chimera (Fig. 7c). However, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the brain was at almost the same low level in the four BM chimeric models, except for certain chemokines such as CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4. Similarly, pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine proteins in the sera of the BL/ 6-KO chimera were detected at markedly higher levels compared with KO-BL/6 and BL/6-BL/6 chimeras (Fig.   7d), which indicates that the BL/6-KO chimera displayed a "cytokine storm" after JEV footpad inoculation, as occurred in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. Because the IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed hemorrhagelike disease through thrombocytopenia and altered hematocrit after JEV footpad inoculation, we checked blood chemistries of the four BM chimeric models. The marked reductions in the values of RBC, hemoglobin, platelet, and hematocrit were observed in both BL/6-KO and KO-KO BM chimeras, as compared with BL/6-BL/6 and KO-BL/6 chimeras (Fig. 7e). Notably, BL/6-KO BM chimera have severe thrombocytopenia, thereby resulting in a reduction of hematocrit value, as shown in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after JEV footpad inoculation. Furthermore, to evaluate whether the BL/6-KO BM chimera had the peripheral organ injury found in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, we checked liver and kidney functions in the four BM chimeras after JEV footpad inoculation. As expected, the BL/6-KO BM chimera , and brain at the indicated days after JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route. Data in the graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test had highly enhanced values of ALT and AST, which indicates that the BL/6-KO BM chimera has impaired liver function after JEV infection (Fig. 7f). Similarly, increased creatinine and BUN values in the BL/6-KO BM chimera indicated impaired kidney functions and displayed hypoglycemia, as shown in IFN-I signalincompetent mice after JEV infection. Finally, we assessed the integrity of the vascular endothelial barrier using the Evan blue dye extravasation method. Enhanced vascular leakages confirmed that the BL/6-KO BM chimera had the hemorrhage-like disease shown in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after JEV footpad inoculation (Fig. 7g). Summarizing all the results derived from the BM chimeric experiments, our data suggest that IFN-I Fig. 7 IFN-I signal in tissue-resident cells plays a crucial role in inducing CNS neuroinflammation through the peripheral restriction of viral dissemination. BM cells from wild-type C57BL/6 (BL/6) or IFNAR1 KO (KO) mice were grafted into lethally irradiated BL/6 or IFNAR1 KO recipient mice, which were infected with JEV (5 × 10 6 ffu) via footpad route 5 weeks later. a Requirement of IFN-I signaling in tissue-resident cells for inducing CNS neuroinflammation. The proportion of surviving mice in each group was monitored daily for 20 days (left graph). Ratio of mice showing neurological disorder in inoculated recipients was recorded daily during JE progression (right graph). b Viral burden in the peripheral and CNS tissues of BM chimeric hosts. Viral burdens were assessed by real-time qRT-PCR using total RNA extracted from the peripheral and CNS tissues including popliteal LNs (pLN), spleen, liver, intestine, and brain 48 h pi. The viral RNA load was expressed by viral RNA copy number per microgram of total RNA (n = 4). Each symbol represents the level of an individual mouse; the horizontal line indicates the mean ± SEM of each group. c IFN-I signal deficiency in tissue-resident cells is required for high induction of inflammatory cytokine mRNA. The mRNA levels of the indicated cytokines and chemokines were determined by real-time qRT-PCR 48 h pi. Radar charts summarize the mean mRNA expression levels of the indicated cytokines in the indicated tissue with a log 10 scale normalized to β-actin expression. d Indispensable role of IFN-I signal in tissue-resident cells in inducing "cytokine storm". Serum levels of cytokines and CC chemokines were determined by cytokine ELISA (IL-6 and TNF-a) and cytokine bead array (CC chemokines) using sera collected from inoculated recipients 48 h pi. Radar chart shows the mean levels of the indicated cytokines with a log 10 scale of cytokine level (pg/ml). e Complete blood count (CBC) data of BM chimeric hosts following JEV infection. The levels of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), and platelets (PLT) were determined using an automated hematology analyzer 48 h pi. Data are expressed by the change percentage compared to mock-infected recipients. f Liver and kidney functions of BM chimeric hosts following JEV infection. The injury of liver and kidney function was evaluated by the levels of ALT and AST for liver, and the levels of BUN, creatinine, and glucose for kidney using a clinical chemistry analyzer. g The amount of extravasated Evans blue dye in the intestine of JEV-infected BM chimeras. The amount of extravasated Evans blue dye was quantified by measuring the absorbance (620 nm) after homogenization and TCA-precipitation of the intestine tissue. Data in the graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test signaling in tissue-resident cells plays a critical role in restricting hemorrhage-like disease after JEV inoculation at the distal site.

IFN-I signaling attenuates JEV replication in hepatocytes, enterocytes, and neuron cells
The intrinsic role of IFN-I signal in tissue-resident cells, rather than HSC-derived cells, in suppressing viral dissemination and hemorrhage-like disease after JEV footpad inoculation was proposed. Therefore, we were interested in the effect of IFN-I signaling on JEV replication in tissue-resident cells, in order to further define cellular factors for viral dissemination and hemorrhagelike disease in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. To achieve this, we prepared primary hepatocytes, enterocytes, and cortical neuron cells from IFN-I signalcompetent and -incompetent mice, and then infected those primary cells to check viral permissiveness. JEV was observed to replicate 10-to 100-fold more rapidly in primary hepatocytes, enterocytes, and neuron cells derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 8a). Notably, JEV replicated much more quickly at 10 5 -to 10 8 -fold increased levels in primary neuron cells, compared with other primary cells including hepatocytes and enterocytes. This result indicates that IFN-I signaling is very important in regulating JEV replication in tissue-resident cells including hepatocytes, enterocytes, and neuron cells, and demonstrates that primary neuron cells are inherently and very permissive to JEV replication, compared with other tissue-resident cells such as hepatocytes and enterocytes. In support, infectious JEV was recovered with highly increased levels in primary hepatocytes, enterocytes, and neuron cells derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice, and primary neuron cells produced infectious JEV with higher levels than other primary cells (Fig. 8b). To better understand the rapid replication of JEV in tissue-resident cells derived from IFN-I signalincompetent mice, we examined the induction of antiviral ISGs in primary hepatocytes and neuron cells after JEV infection. As expected, primary hepatocytes derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed highly impaired induction of antiviral ISGs including MDA5, RIG-I, IRF3, and IRF7, as well as ISG49, ISG54, and ISG56, depending on the infectious dose of JEV (Fig. 8c). Primary neuron cells derived from IFN-I signalincompetent mice also showed reduced induction of antiviral ISGs following JEV infection (Fig. 8d). Collectively, these results suggest that tissue-resident cells derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice are very permissive to JEV replication, due to impaired induction of antiviral ISGs. In addition, our data imply that neuron cells are inherently and highly vulnerable to JEV infection compared with other tissue-resident cells.
Early and higher infection of circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes at the inoculation site is a prerequisite to JEV dissemination Tissue-resident cells that are deficient in IFN-I signaling showed high permissiveness to JEV infection and played a dominant role in inducing hemorrhage-like disease in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after JEV footpad inoculation, due to enhanced JEV dissemination into peripheral organ tissues. Here, we were interested in identifying cellular factors that carry the virus throughout the body after JEV inoculation at the distal peripheral sites. To this end, we screened various cell types that could be infected in footpad tissue at an early phase (24 and 48 h pi) after JEV inoculation. Eventually, we found that CD11b + myeloid cells were preferentially infected 48 h after JEV infection in the footpad tissues of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice (Fig. 9a). Furthermore, our analysis revealed that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were highly infected in footpad CD11b + myeloid cell population derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. Notably, CD11b + Ly-6C + inflammatory macrophages that show mature macrophage phenotype (F4/80-positive) in the footpad of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice were infected with highly increased levels, as shown by the high frequency of CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages with an NS1 JEV Ag-positive response. Similarly, the footpad derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice contained highly increased number of NS1-positive CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages compared with competent mice, and the footpad of IFN-I signalincompetent mice contained higher number of NS1postive CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages at 24 h than 48 h (Fig. 9b), which indicates that JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages were detected earlier and higher in the footpad of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice than IFN-I signalcompetent mice. Subsequently, we examined JEVinfected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in peripheral organ tissues such as the liver after JEV inoculation at the distal footpad tissue. CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from the liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice were infected at higher levels compared to competent mice (Fig.  9c). However, unlike the footpad tissue, liver CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages matured from monocytes had a comparable infection rate in both IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice. In support, JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were detected at higher levels in the liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice compared with competent mice 24 h after JEV footpad inoculation, while CD11b-negative non-myeloid cells showing NS1 JEV Ag-positive response were detected at comparable levels (Fig. 9d). The next day (48 h pi), liver tissue derived from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice contained at high levels of JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes as well as CD11b-negative non-myeloid cells compared with competent mice. These results indicate that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured macrophages could be preferentially infected in footpad tissue at an early stage in JEV infection, after which JEVinfected monocytes appear to carry the virus to peripheral organs, such as the liver. CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes that are recruited into inflamed tissues such as the footpad differentiate into macrophages, and some monocytes escape the inflamed tissues and enter the blood, thereby spreading the virus to entire peripheral organs [55][56][57]. In support of this, when we analyzed JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the blood, our results revealed that blood CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were infected with highly increased levels in IFN-I signalincompetent mice compared with competent mice 24 h after JEV footpad inoculation (Fig. 9e). In addition, we evaluated the frequency and number of JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes infiltrated into the CNS after JEV inoculation at footpad tissues, because IFN-I signalincompetent mice showed modestly increased levels of JEV RNA burden and infectious virus in the brain 48 h pi, compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice. As expected, CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from the CNS of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed higher levels of JEV Ag (NS1) expression than those of IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 9f). IFN-I signalincompetent mice contained increased frequency and  number of JEV NS1-positive CD11b + myeloid cells and CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the brain. However, JEV NS1-positive CD11btissue-resident cells in the brain of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice were detected with modestly but not significantly increased levels compared with IFN-I signal-competent mice. This result may support that IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed modestly but not significantly increased levels of JEV burden in the CNS at 48 h pi, compared with IFN-I signalcompetent mice. In order to further characterize the role of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in quick viral dissemination into the peripheral tissue-resident cells of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice, we used BM chimeric hosts infected with JEV via footpad route, and determined the frequency and number of JEV NS1-positive CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the footpad and liver of BM chimeric hosts. In support, our data revealed that IFN-I signaldeficient CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes showed higher expression of JEV NS1 protein than IFN-I signalcompetent monocytes (Fig. 9g, h). Here, one interesting data was that CD11b-negative tissue-resident cells in footpad and liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent recipients of BM cells derived from IFN-I signal-competent mice (BL/6-KO BM chimeric host) showed higher expression of JEV NS1 protein compared to KO-BL/6 BM chimeric host. This result indicates that IFN-I signal-incompetent tissue-resident cells are permissive to inoculation of JEV delivered by CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes.
To better understand the preferential infection of JEV in CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, we measured JEV loads in CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from the footpad, blood, and liver. As expected, CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from the footpad, blood, and liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice contained 2-to 3-fold increased levels of JEV RNA compared with IFN-I signalcompetent mice (Fig. 10a). In support, CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from the footpad, blood, and the liver of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice showed impaired induction of antiviral ISGs (MDA5, RIG-I, IRF3, IRF7, ISG49, ISG54, ISG56) compared to IFN-I signalcompetent mice (Fig. 10b). Also, in order to examine infectious JEV production in CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, we infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from the blood of IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice, and determined the production of infectious JEV. Our data revealed that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from IFN-I signal-incompetent mice produced infectious JEV with higher levels than IFN-I signal-competent mice (Fig. 10c). Finally, we measured JEV loads in CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes purified from the footpad, blood, and liver of BM chimeric hosts 48 h after JEV inoculation at footpad tissues. As expected, IFN-I signal-deficient CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from KO-BL/6 and KO-KO BM chimeric hosts contained higher JEV RNA burden than BL/6-KO and BL/6-BL/6 BM chimeric hosts (Fig. 10d). Taken together, these results suggest that preferential infection of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the footpad tissue of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice is required for quick viral dissemination into the entire body. At an early stage after JEV footpad inoculation, JEV-infected CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the footpad are likely to carry the virus through the blood into peripheral tissues.

Discussion
IFN-I signal has been well known to play an important role in controlling viral infection. In particular, the critical contribution of IFN-I signal and transcription factors (IRF3, IRF5, IRF7, IPS-1, etc.) for IFN-I production to the control of in vivo flavivirus infection mostly focused on WNV has been described [20][21][22]. Although IFN-I signaling is thought to play an important role in providing protective immunity to Infiltrated leukocytes prepared from brain of IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice were used to analyze JEV Ag-positive CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes with flow cytometry 48 h pi. g and h Involvement of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in quick viral dissemination in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice using BM chimeric models. Infiltrated leukocytes prepared from footpad and liver of BM chimeric hosts were used for the detection of JEV Agpositive CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes 48 h pi. Data in bar graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test JEV infection, there has been no research on the role of IFN-I signaling in CNS neuroinflammation using a practical in vivo JEV infection model. In addition, IFN-I signaldependent cellular factors responsible for CNS neuroinflammation after JEV infection are still ambiguous. Our results propose a mechanistic model for how CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes are involved in the tissue tropism of JEV to the CNS, depending on the IFN-I signal. In the present study, we found that IFN-I signal-competent mice died by a prolonged and neurological illness following JEV inoculation in distal tissue, whereas IFN-I signal-incompetent mice died without any neurological signs. Rather, IFN-I signal-incompetent mice had a hemorrhage-like disease and quick viral dissemination through the entire body, as evidenced by blood cell analysis, parameters for liver and kidney functions, and increased vascular leakage. The massive and uncontrolled production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in sera of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice was closely associated with the hemorrhage-like disease. Using a BM chimeric model, intrinsic IFN-I signaling in tissue-resident cells was found to play a major role in inducing hemorrhage-like disease, as IFN-I signal-incompetent recipients for BM cells derived from IFN-I signal-competent mice showed enhanced JEV dissemination, uncontrolled cytokine production, and increased vascular leakage. IFN-I signal-deficient hepatocytes and enterocytes were permissive to JEV replication with impaired induction of antiviral ISGs, and neuron cells derived from IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice showed inherent and high vulnerability to JEV replication. This indicated that neurons could be a major cell for JEV replication Fig. 10 Circulating IFN-I signal-deficient CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes are highly permissive to JEV replication. Cells were prepared from the primary inoculation site (footpad), blood, and liver of IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice 48 h after JEV infection (5 × 10 6 ffu/mouse) via the footpad route, and used to purify CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes using a FACS Aria sorter. a Viral burden of circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in footpad, blood, and liver. Viral RNA load was determined by real-time qRT-PCR using total RNA extracted from sorted CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes. Viral RNA levels were expressed by JEV RNA copy number per microgram of total RNA. b Induction of RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), IRFs, and IFNstimulated genes (ISGs) in CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from the footpad, blood, and liver. The mRNA levels of the indicated genes were determined by real-time qRT-PCR using total RNA extracted from sorted CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes. c Enhanced infection of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from blood of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were purified from PBL collected from uninfected IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice, and infected with JEV (1.0 MOI) in the presence of GM-CSF (10 ng/ml). Infectious JEV in culture media was determined by a focus-forming assay. d Enhanced JEV burden of IFN-I signal-incompetent CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in BM chimeric hosts. CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were purified from the footpad, blood, and liver of BM chimeric hosts 48 h pi, and used for determining JEV burden with real-time qRT-PCR. Data in bar graphs denote the mean ± SEM. Results are representative of one out of at least two individual experiments with four to five mice per group. Statistical significance *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 was assessed by an unpaired two-tailed Student's t test once it has invaded the CNS. Finally, we showed that circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes infiltrated into distal tissue inoculated with JEV played a role in the quick dissemination of JEV to peripheral organs of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice at an early stage.
CNS immune privilege is maintained by multiple factors, including its isolation from the peripheral immune system by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), lack of draining lymphatics, and the apparent immunocompetence of microglia [58]. The infiltration of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes into CNS immune privilege is a hallmark of CNS neuroinflammation caused by neurotrophic viruses, such as JEV and WNV [59][60][61]. During the course of inflammation, CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes are specifically recruited to inflammatory sites in various conditions from the BM via blood, depending on the CCR2-CCL2 axis [55,62]. CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes recruited into inflamed tissue, such as the footpad, inoculated with JEV differentiate into CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages, and some monocytes leave the inflamed tissues and enter the blood, then move to other organs [55][56][57]. In addition, CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + inflammatory macrophages differentiated from CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes migrate draining lymph nodes and/or activate effector T cells into inflamed tissues [63,64]. The migration and differentiation of CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes during the inflammatory process are very complicated, and there is a limit to subdividing and understanding their migration and differentiation. Likewise, even though the possibility of JEV traveling through the plasma of blood and the spread of virus into lymph nodes has not been completely ruled out, our data suggest that JEV spreads to other peripheral organs via CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the absence of IFN-I signaling. After screening various cell types positive for JEV NS1 Ag, we found that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + macrophages were preferentially positive for JEV NS1 Ag in the JEV inoculation site (footpad) in the early stage (1 dpi) of infection. The delivery of inoculated JEV from the primary infection site to other peripheral organs is believed to be involved in the later hemorrhage-like disease in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. In support of this suggestion, our data revealed that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes were positive for JEV NS1 Ag in the liver at high levels on the second day (48 h) after JEV footpad infection, whereas the number of JEV Ag-positive CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the footpad decreased. It is thought that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the footpad on the first day migrated to the liver on the second day carrying JEV in the bloodstream. This notion is strengthened by the results that IFN-I signal-deficient CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from KO-BL/6 BM chimeric host displayed higher expression of JEV NS1 protein than BL/6-KO BM chimeric host, whereas CD11b-negative tissueresident cells in BL/6-KO BM chimeric host showed higher expression of JEV NS1 protein than KO-BL/6 BM chimeric host. In addition, this speculation is partially supported by the result showing that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes derived from the footpad of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice contained higher levels of JEV RNA than those of competent mice. Here, it is unclear whether CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes egressed from the footpad and moved back to the BM. Low levels of JEV NS1-positive CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes in the BM were comparable in both IFN-I signal-competent and -incompetent mice (Data not shown). Therefore, it is presumed that CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes leaving the footpad migrated to the peripheral organs such as the liver, and not the BM.
The more interesting finding was that tissue-resident cells were the main players in causing the alteration of tissue tropism in the absence of IFN-I signaling, and thereby resulting in the induction of a hemorrhage-like disease. The individual cell types are considered to respond differentially to signaling by the binding of IFN-I to IFNAR1 because individual cell types have shown overlapping yet distinct transcriptional programs [37,38]. Notably, targeting of the viral life cycle at an early step by multiple and novel antiviral ISGs indicated that host cells use several strategies to engender a single outcome such as translational inhibition [38]. In addition, two types of neuron cells derived from distinct brain regions were found to have unique innate immune signatures that may contribute to their relative permissiveness to viral infection [37]. Similarly, hepatocytes were observed to display overlapping but different levels of ISGs from neuron cells with JEV infection, because antiviral ISGs including IRF3, IRF7, ISG49, and ISG54 were expressed in hepatocytes at higher levels than in neuron cells. IFN-I signal-competent hepatocytes and enterocytes were markedly resistant to JEV infection, and neurons showed inherent vulnerability to JEV infection, regardless of whether IFN-I signaling was present. However, IFN-I signal-deficient hepatocytes and enterocytes produced 10-fold increased levels of infectious JEV compared with IFN-I signal-competent hepatocytes and enterocytes. This implies that tissue-resident cells such as hepatocytes and enterocytes have no permissiveness to JEV infection because of inherent and antiviral properties in IFN-I signal-competent mice, but those tissueresident cells may be productive for infectious JEV in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice. Conceivably, it is presumed that tissue-resident cells in the liver and kidney play a role in inducing hemorrhage-like disease in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice through receiving JEV transported by CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes from footpad inoculation. Based on these speculations, we propose mechanistic models for how IFN-I signaling can control the CNS-restricted tissue tropism of JEV (Fig. 11). JEV first infects locally infiltrated CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + macrophages in primary inoculation tissues (footpad) and then in local LNs (pLNs) in IFN-I signal-competent hosts. Virus produced in these sites gain entry into the bloodstream via CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, causing primary viremia. JEV is transported to larger organs such as the liver, kidney, intestine, and so forth, but tissue-resident cells in those organs are not permissive to JEV replication. Later (5-7 dpi), CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes infected with JEV gain access to the CNS under certain circumstances, and very permissive neuron cells are subsequently inoculated with virus, thereby resulting in encephalitis. In contrast, JEV is provided at higher levels in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after infecting infiltrated CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + macrophages in primary inoculation sites and then in local LNs. Virus appears in the bloodstream through circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, which subsequently infects permissive tissue-resident cells (hepatocytes, enterocytes, etc.) in the liver, kidney, and intestine of IFN-I signal-incompetent hosts. Infection of various tissue-resident cells in larger organs with JEV brings about a fatal "cytokine storm" in IFN-I signalincompetent hosts within 2 dpi, thereby inducing multiple organ failure rather than encephalitis.
A "cytokine storm" is a serological phenomenon in which an excessive amount of cytokines is produced in sera following infection by gram-negative bacteria or pathogenic influenza A and coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV2 [65][66][67][68][69][70]. Excessive cytokine production with the alteration of vascular permeability has also been described for flaviviruses in the context of severe DenV infection in human or highly immunocompromised mice [71,72]. No blunted production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IFN-I (IFN-αβ) was observed in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice following footpad inoculation of JEV. Even IFN-I signal-incompetent mice produced markedly increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in sera, as well as IFN-I (IFN-α/ β) expression in peripheral tissues. Although the susceptibility of IFN-I signal-incompetent mice to JEV Fig. 11 Proposed model for IFN-I role in inducing CNS neuroinflammation through the peripheral restriction of JEV dissemination. In IFN-I signal-competent hosts, JEV first infects locally infiltrated CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + macrophages in primary inoculation tissues (footpad) and then in local LNs (popliteal LNs). Virus produced in these sites gains entry into the bloodstream via CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, causing primary viremia. Subsequently, the virus is carried to larger organs such as the liver, kidney, intestine, and so forth, but tissue-resident cells in those organs are not permissive to virus replication. Later (5-7 dpi), CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes infected with JEV gain access to the CNS, which inoculate virus to very permissive neuron cells, thereby resulting in encephalitis. In contrast, JEV is provided with higher levels in IFN-I signal-incompetent mice after infecting infiltrated CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes and their matured CD11b + Ly-6C + F4/80 + macrophages in primary inoculation sites and then in local LNs. Virus appears in the bloodstream through circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes, and subsequently infects permissive tissue-resident cells (hepatocytes, enterocytes, etc.) in the liver, kidney, and intestine, and so forth. Infection of various tissue-resident cells in larger organs with JEV brings about a fatal "cytokine storm" in IFN-I signal-incompetent hosts within 2 dpi, thereby inducing multiple organ failure rather than encephalitis considered because two types of flaviviruses, JEV and DenV, cause overlapping yet subtly different disease patterns.

Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that the intrinsic IFN-I signal in tissue-resident cells is critical in limiting the tissue tropism of viral dissemination following distal JEV inoculation, and the early and higher infection of circulating CD11b + Ly-6C + monocytes at the inoculation site contributes to viral dissemination into the entire body at the early stage. Therefore, our study proposes a model of IFN-I signal-dependent cellular factors in viral tissue tropism to induce CNS neuroinflammation following distal JEV inoculation.