Treatment of viral encephalitis by agents blocking alpha-VLA-4 integrin function

摘要

The invention provides methods of treating viral encephalitis in a patient. Such methods entail administering to the patient an effect amount of an agent that inhibits binding of leukocytes to brain endothelial cells via leukocyte surface antigen alpha-4 integrin. Such agents include antibodies and small molecules that specially bind to alpha-4 integrin.