Chikungunya Virus Infection of Monocytes Generates a Persistent Macrophage Reservoir That Promotes IFN-π/IL-27-STAT1- and NF-κB-Driven Chronic Arthritis

Chikungunya virus induces monocyte-derived macrophages that serve as a persistent reservoir and drive chronic arthritis through a non-canonical IFN-π/IL-27-STAT1 pathway.

• Why it matters: Understanding how CHIKV sustains long-term inflammation is crucial for developing treatments for chronic arthralgia, a common complication of infection.
• What they did: The study combined transcriptomic analysis of patients, in vitro infection of human monocytes, and single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse joint macrophages, revealing a persistent, M1-skewed macrophage phenotype with unique cytokine production.
• The result: These infected macrophages promote inflammation via FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, complement activation, and a hybrid immune response, highlighting potential targets for therapies to prevent or treat chronic CHIKV arthritis.