Impact of HSV-1 Infection on Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration Markers: Insights from LUHMES 2D and 3D Neuronal Models

1. Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Despite extensive research efforts, its exact etiology remains elusive, and current therapeutic strategies only provide limited symptomatic relief [1]. Although senile plaques—primarily composed of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides—and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs)—formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein—have been recognized as key features of AD for over a century, the molecular mechanisms driving the progression of the disorder are still not fully understood. Historically, the amyloid cascade hypothesis has dominated AD research, proposing that accumulation of Aβ peptides initiates a cascade of pathological events culminating in neuronal death [2]. However, accumulating evidence suggests that multiple factors, including infectious agents, significantly contribute to the complexity and progression of AD pathology [3].

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a highly prevalent human pathogen that infects a large proportion of the global population, typically during early life. It is primarily associated with orolabial lesions but has the capacity to infect neurons and establish lifelong latency within the peripheral nervous system, particularly in sensory ganglia. Periodic reactivation of the virus can lead to recurrent symptoms and viral shedding [4]. Beyond its classical clinical presentations, growing evidence suggests that HSV-1 may exert long-term effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The virus is neurotropic and capable of invading the brain, where it may persist in a latent or low-grade replicative state. Reactivation or chronic infection in the CNS has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including encephalitis, and more recently, neurodegenerative diseases such as AD [5,6]. In this context, understanding HSV-1’s mechanisms of neuroinvasion, latency, reactivation, and the cellular pathways it disrupts—particularly in neuronal cells—is essential for elucidating its potential role in neurodegeneration.

A growing number of studies suggest a possible association between chronic HSV-1 infection and an increased risk of developing AD. Epidemiological studies have consistently identified associations between HSV-1 and a higher risk of AD, particularly among individuals carrying the APOE-ε4 allele [7,8,9,10]. Neuropathological analyses have revealed that HSV-1 DNA is frequently detected in the brains of AD patients, especially in brain regions severely affected by the disease, i.e., the hippocampus/limbic system [11]. Furthermore, experimental studies demonstrate that HSV-1 infection can directly induce hallmark AD features, such as Aβ accumulation [12], tau hyperphosphorylation [13], neuroinflammation [14] and synaptic dysfunction [15]. However, the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms linking HSV-1 infection to AD pathology remain to be fully elucidated.

Emerging evidence also highlights the critical involvement of the autophagy-lysosomal system in both AD pathology and viral infections [16,17]. In AD, impaired autophagic flux and lysosomal dysfunction lead to the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates, including Aβ and phosphorylated tau, thereby contributing to neuronal stress and degeneration [18,19]. Likewise, several neurotropic viruses—including HSV-1—are known to interfere with autophagy and lysosomal pathways to favor their replication and persistence within host cells [17,20]. Thus, disruption of the autophagy-lysosomal system represents a convergent mechanism linking HSV-1 infection to AD-like neurodegenerative processes.

Advanced cellular models capable of recapitulating key aspects of human brain physiology offer invaluable tools for investigating virus-induced neurodegenerative processes. LUHMES (Lund human mesencephalic) is a human dopaminergic neuronal progenitor cell line derived from embryonic mesencephalic precursor cells, conditionally immortalized through the integration of the v-myc oncogene controlled by a tetracycline-regulated system. These cells exhibit a remarkable capacity for proliferation and, upon controlled suppression of the oncogene, differentiate rapidly into mature neurons that display physiological and morphological properties characteristic of the human nervous system [21]. A key advantage of the LUHMES cellular model is its ability to maintain homogeneous and stable neuronal differentiation in long-term cultures, providing consistent cell lines for reproducible studies. This makes them particularly valuable for large-scale pharmacological screening assays and investigations into genetic and environmental factors involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, LUHMES cells are suitable for modeling neurological disorders in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems [22,23,24], enabling the generation of models that accurately replicate the spatial and cellular complexity of the human brain environment. Furthermore, these cells have been successfully used to study the effects of infectious and toxic agents on neuronal physiology [25,26], thereby facilitating an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of CNS pathologies. To date, only a few studies have explored HSV-1 infection in LUHMES cultures, and most have focused on the establishment and maintenance of viral latency in 2D cultures [26,27,28]. The effects of productive lytic infection and the consequent neurodegenerative responses have not been characterized in this model.

In this context, the present study aimed to develop and characterize a 3D LUHMES-based model of HSV-1 infection to investigate the molecular mechanisms leading to virus-induced neurodegeneration. We demonstrate that HSV-1 infection in this system reproduces AD-like alterations, including intracellular Aβ accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and lysosomal dysfunction. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the potential role of HSV-1 in AD pathogenesis and establish a physiologically relevant neuronal platform to dissect the interplay between viral infection and neurodegeneration.

2. Results

2.1. LUHMES Cells Efficiently Differentiate into a Homogeneous Neuronal Population

LUHMES cells are a human neuronal precursor cell line derived from embryonic mesencephalon that can be terminally differentiated into post-mitotic dopaminergic-like neurons under defined culture conditions. In their proliferative state, LUHMES cells exhibit a compact and rounded morphology. As previously reported, withdrawal of growth factors combined with tetracycline exposure induces rapid neuronal differentiation, with neurite outgrowth visible within 2–3 days and a pronounced neuronal morphology by day 5. By this time, cells form dense neuronal networks clearly observable under phase-contrast microscopy (Figure 1A).

Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that proliferating LUHMES cells express neural progenitor and proliferation markers, including nestin—a neuroepithelial stem cell marker involved in cytoskeletal organization—and Ki-67, a proliferation marker associated with DNA replication (Figure 1B). Upon differentiation, these markers were downregulated, whereas the expression of mature neuronal markers such as III-tubulin, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neuronal nuclei antigen (NeuN) was strongly upregulated (Figure 1C). Unlike other neural stem cell models, LUHMES cells do not give rise to glial lineages such as astrocytes or oligodendrocytes, highlighting their suitability for studies focused exclusively on neuronal biology.

Protein and gene expression analysis by Western blot and reverse transcription followed by quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further confirmed the transition from a progenitor to a neuronal phenotype. A marked decrease in nestin, SOX2—a transcription factor essential for embryonic development—and Ki-67 was accompanied by strong upregulation of neuronal markers including βIII-tubulin, MAP2, synapsin 1 (SYN1), synaptophysin (SYP), and D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) (Figure 1D,E).

Overall, these findings demonstrate the rapid and efficient neuronal differentiation of LUHMES cells into a homogeneous population of post-mitotic human neurons, providing a robust in vitro system to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration.

2.2. LUHMES Cells Are Permissive to HSV-1 Infection in Both Proliferative and Differentiated States

To evaluate HSV-1 permissiveness in LUHMES cells, we first analyzed infection dynamics in proliferative cultures. In this undifferentiated state, LUHMES cells displayed a rounded morphology and exhibited a rapid lytic response upon HSV-1 exposure. Infection induced progressive cell rounding and detachment, with clear cytopathic effects visible from 12 hours post-infection (hpi). Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of HSV-1 proteins representative of distinct kinetic classes, including the immediate early protein ICP4, the early protein ICP8, and the true-late glycoprotein gC, all of which increased in a viral dose-dependent manner (Figure 2A). To assess the extent of infection, immunofluorescence analysis using an anti-gC antibody were performed, revealing a dose-dependent increase in the proportion of infected cells. At a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 3 for 18 hours, nearly all cells (> 90%) displayed strong gC immunoreactivity (Figure 2B). qPCR further demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in HSV-1 DNA copy number (Figure 2C), consistent with active viral genome replication. Finally, viral titer assays confirmed the release of infectious viral particles into the culture supernatants, indicating that LUHMES progenitor cells efficiently support productive lytic replication of HSV-1 (Figure 2D).

To characterize HSV-1 infection in LUHMES neurons, cultures were differentiated for 7 days prior to viral exposure. At 24 hpi, neurons began to exhibit cytopathic effects, including initial signs of neurite fragmentation. By 48 hpi, neurons had lost their characteristic branched morphology, appeared rounded, and started to detach from the culture surface. Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of HSV-1 proteins corresponding to distinct kinetic phases—ICP4 (immediate-early) and gC (late)—in differentiated neurons at 24 hpi and 48 hpi, showing a clear dependence on viral dose and infection time (Figure 2E). Consistently, immunofluorescence revealed nuclear localization of ICP4 and prominent staining of viral glycoproteins gB and gD at 24 and 48 hpi. At MOI 1, about 50% of cells expressed viral proteins, increasing to over 90% at MOI 3 (Figure 2F). qPCR confirmed active viral genome replication (Figure 2G), and titer assays detected the release of infectious particles into the culture supernatant (Figure 2H). Notably, viral yields were lower, and the appearance of extracellular virus was delayed compared with proliferative LUHMES cultures.

Together, these findings demonstrate that LUHMES cells are permissive to HSV-1 infection in both proliferative and post-mitotic neuronal states.

2.3. HSV-1 Induces AD-like Neurodegeneration Markers in LUHMES Cells

Accumulation of Aβ peptides, which aggregate to form senile plaques, represents a major hallmark of AD. HSV-1 infection has been shown to promote intracellular Aβ accumulation by disrupting the non-amyloidogenic amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing pathway and reducing the secretion of Aβ peptides [29]. To evaluate whether HSV-1 infection modulates Aβ levels in proliferative LUHMES cells, immunofluorescence analysis was performed. In uninfected cultures (mock), no intracellular Aβ was detected with any of the anti-Aβ antibodies tested. In contrast, following HSV-1 exposure, a pronounced accumulation of Aβ was observed, as revealed by immunolabeling with Aβ40- and Aβ42-specific antibodies (Figure 3A). The extracellular Aβ content in the conditioned media of LUHMES cells was subsequently quantified by ELISA assays. A viral dose-dependent reduction in secreted Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels was observed in HSV-1-infected cultures relative to mock-infected cultures (Figure 3B). These findings suggest that HSV-1 infection impairs Aβ secretion, thereby promoting intracellular Aβ accumulation in proliferative LUHMES cells.

Tau, a microtubule-associated protein, undergoes hyperphosphorylation in AD, leading to the formation of NFTs, another defining neuropathological feature of the disease. To assess whether HSV-1 infection affects tau phosphorylation in proliferative LUHMES cells, immunofluorescence assays were carried out using antibodies recognizing tau phosphorylated at residues Thr205 and Ser422, both of which are typically associated with NFTs. In non-infected cells, no phosphorylated tau was detected. Upon HSV-1 infection, strong accumulation of phosphorylated tau was evident at 18 hpi (Figure 3C). Western blot analysis further confirmed a significant increase in tau phosphorylation at epitopes Ser202 and Thr231, which are also present in NFTs (Figure 3D).

To determine whether the effects of HSV-1 observed in proliferative LUHMES cells were also present in mature neuronal cultures, LUHMES cells were differentiated to obtain post-mitotic neurons and subsequently infected with HSV-1. Similar to what was observed in proliferative LUHMES cells, HSV-1 infection induced a marked intracellular accumulation of Aβ in differentiated neurons. In mock-infected cultures, Aβ immunoreactivity was virtually absent, whereas HSV-1–infected neurons displayed a strong intracellular Aβ signal detected with antibodies specific to both Aβ40 and Aβ42 (Figure 3E). Consistent with these observations, ELISA quantification of conditioned media revealed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in secreted Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in HSV-1–infected neuronal cultures compared with non-infected controls (Figure 3F). These results indicate that viral infection compromises Aβ secretion, leading to its intracellular retention in LUHMES neurons.

We next examined whether HSV-1 infection alters tau phosphorylation in these neuronal cultures. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that, in control neurons, phosphorylated tau (Thr205 and Ser422) was barely detectable. In contrast, infected neurons exhibited widespread phospho-tau staining throughout the soma and neuritic processes at 24 hpi (Figure 3G). Western blot analysis further confirmed a robust increase in tau phosphorylation at the Ser202 and Thr231 epitopes in HSV-1-infected neuronal cultures (Figure 3H).

Collectively, these results demonstrate that HSV-1 infection recapitulates hallmark AD-like pathological features—intracellular Aβ accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation—not only in proliferative LUHMES cells but also in differentiated LUHMES-derived neurons. These findings underscore the capacity of HSV-1 to disrupt APP processing and tau regulation across different stages of neuronal maturation, thereby strengthening the potential of this human neuronal model for investigating the pathogenic link between viral infection and AD-related neurodegeneration.

2.4. HSV-1 Impairs the Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway in LUHMES Cells

Another neuropathological mechanism associated with AD and reported to be affected by HSV-1 infection involves the dysfunction of the autophagy-lysosome pathway. During autophagy activation, the cytosolic form of LC3 (LC3-I) undergoes lipidation to form LC3-II, which binds to autophagic membranes and remains associated with autophagosomes throughout their maturation. To determine whether HSV-1 alters this pathway in LUHMES cells, we first analyzed LC3 expression levels and distribution in proliferative cultures. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a marked accumulation of LC3 in HSV-1-infected cells, whereas LC3 staining was nearly undetectable in mock-infected cultures (Figure 4A). The punctate LC3 staining pattern was consistent with the accumulation of autophagosomes. Western blot analysis corroborated these observations, showing a viral dose-dependent increase in LC3-II levels (Figure 4B).

To further explore the effects of HSV-1 on lysosomal integrity and function, we evaluated the lysosomal load using the lysosomotropic dye LysoTracker Red (LTR). LTR fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in HSV-1–infected LUHMES cultures than in non-infected controls, reflecting an increased lysosomal burden upon infection (Figure 4C). Moreover, while cathepsin D/E activity was not affected by infection, the activity of lysosomal cathepsin S was significantly reduced in HSV-1–infected LUHMES cells (Figure 4D), suggesting a defect in lysosomal proteolytic function. Together, these data indicate that HSV-1 disrupts the autophagy-lysosome pathway in proliferative LUHMES cells, leading to impaired autophagic flux and defective lysosomal degradation.

We next investigated whether similar alterations occurred in LUHMES cells differentiated into mature neurons. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an accumulation of LC3 in HSV-1-infected neurons (Figure 4E), consistent with an accumulation of autophagosomes as observed in proliferative LUHMES cells. In contrast to mock-infected controls, differentiated neurons exposed to HSV-1 exhibited a pronounced increase in LTR fluorescence intensity (Figure 4F), indicating that viral infection also enhances lysosomal content in mature neuronal cultures. Furthermore, lysosomal enzymatic activity measured using fluorogenic substrates for cathepsins D, E and S showed a significant decrease in all tested enzymes in infected neuronal cultures (Figure 4G). These results indicate that HSV-1 infection compromises both the autophagic process and lysosomal proteolytic activity in LUHMES-derived neurons.

Together, these findings suggest that HSV-1-induced disruption of the autophagy-lysosome pathway contributes to neuronal vulnerability and may represent a key mechanism underlying AD-related neurodegeneration.

2.5. Development of a 3D Neuronal Model Using Differentiated LUHMES Cells

Building on these findings, we next sought to determine whether HSV-1 infection induces similar AD-like alterations within a more physiologically relevant 3D neuronal environment. To this end, we first generated and optimized LUHMES-based 3D neuronal cultures. Following a previously described protocol for the establishment of 3D LUHMES neuronal cultures [30], we adapted and refined the procedure to fit our experimental conditions (Figure 5A). Briefly, LUHMES cells were seeded in low-adhesion plates containing differentiation medium and maintained under constant orbital agitation. Under these conditions, the cells spontaneously aggregated into free-floating spherical structures (Figure 5B). To ensure appropriate oxygen and nutrient diffusion and to prevent the formation of necrotic cores, the aggregate diameter was kept below 350 µm. Continuous monitoring of cultures up to day 14 of differentiation revealed stable aggregate morphology, with an average diameter of approximately 300 µm (Figure 5C).

To assess the proliferation rate within 3D LUHMES cultures, we analyzed the expression of Ki-67, a well-established proliferation marker, in undifferentiated cells and at 4, 7, 10, and 14 days of differentiation. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a clear Ki-67 signal at day 4, with Ki-67–positive cells distributed throughout the aggregates, indicating the presence of actively dividing cells. As differentiation progressed, the number of Ki-67-positive cells markedly decreased and became nearly undetectable by day 10 (Figure 5D), consistent with a progressive inhibition of proliferation during neuronal maturation.

To further characterize the differentiation status of the 3D LUHMES cultures, RT-qPCR analysis was performed to quantify the expression of neuronal and progenitor markers throughout the differentiation process. The expression levels of the proliferation marker gene MKI67 and the neuronal genes DRD2, SYN1, and SYP were analyzed relative to those in undifferentiated cells. Consistent with the immunofluorescence data, Ki-67 mRNA levels progressively declined during differentiation, indicating the loss of proliferative and progenitor features. In contrast, neuronal markers were significantly upregulated, reflecting the acquisition of a mature neuronal phenotype. By day 14 of differentiation, expression of neuronal genes reached maximal levels, while MKI67 expression was strongly downregulated (Figure 5E).

Consistent with these transcriptional data, immunofluorescence analysis further confirmed neuronal differentiation within 3D aggregates. Staining for the neural progenitor marker nestin revealed a marked reduction in its expression as differentiation progressed, indicating the loss of precursor characteristics (Figure 5F). In contrast, mature neuronal markers such as MAP2, neurofilament heavy chain (NF200), and βIII-tubulin showed strong and widespread expression throughout the aggregates, consistent with a well-established neuronal phenotype. High-magnification images highlighted extensive neuritic arborization and the presence of long, branching neurites characteristic of mature neurons, confirming the proper neuronal maturation achieved in the 3D cultures (Figure 5G).

These findings demonstrate that by day 14, LUHMES cells within 3D aggregates acquire a mature neuronal phenotype characterized by increased neuronal gene expression, extensive neurite formation, and an almost complete loss of proliferative markers.

2.6. Development of a 3D LUHMES-Based Model of HSV-1 Infection

One of the main objectives of this study was to establish a model of HSV-1 infection in 3D LUHMES neuronal cultures. To optimize infection conditions, we used a fluorescent HSV-1 strain expressing the tegument protein VP11/12—encoded by the UL46 gene—as a GFP fusion protein (UL46-GFP). 3D LUHMES cultures were initially infected with increasing doses of the UL46-GFP strain for 24 hours, and infection efficiency was assessed by fluorescence microscopy. A dose-dependent increase in both the extent and intensity of GFP fluorescence within the 3D aggregates was observed, indicating the progressive spread of infection throughout the cultures (Figure 6A).

Subsequently, the expression of viral proteins representative of different stages of the viral replication cycle was quantified: ICP4 (an immediate-early gene), UL42 (a leaky late gene), and gC (a true late gene). Western blot analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in all three viral proteins, reaching a plateau at a viral dose of 5 × 10⁶ plaque forming units (PFU) (Figure 6B). To further confirm active viral replication, viral DNA levels were quantified by qPCR, demonstrating that the UL46-GFP strain replicates efficiently in 3D LUHMES neuronal cultures (Figure 6C). Taken together, these results confirm the susceptibility of 3D LUHMES cultures to HSV-1 infection and allowed the optimization of experimental parameters, establishing 5 × 10⁶ PFU as the optimal viral dose for subsequent assays.

To further assess the ability of the virus to penetrate the 3D aggregates, confocal optical sections corresponding to the central regions of the spheroids were analyzed at different post-infection time points. Confocal microscopy images revealed that viral signal became detectable in the inner layers of the aggregates at 18 hpi and progressively increased over time (Figure 6D). These observations confirm that HSV-1 efficiently spreads throughout the entire 3D structure, resulting in a homogeneous infection across the aggregates.

Finally, immunofluorescence assays were performed to confirm the expression and localization of viral proteins within 3D LUHMES aggregates after 96 hours of infection. Confocal microscopy images showed the presence of ICP4 and the glycoproteins gB, gC and gD distributed throughout the aggregates. High-magnification images revealed the characteristic nuclear localization of ICP4 within viral replication compartments, while gB, gC, and gD were detected predominantly in the cytoplasm (Figure 6E). These observations confirm that HSV-1 undergoes a complete and efficient infection in 3D LUHMES neuronal cultures.

2.7. HSV-1 Triggers AD-like Alterations in 3D LUHMES Neuronal Cultures

Our next aim was to determine whether the pathological effects of HSV-1 observed in proliferative and differentiated 2D LUHMES cultures were recapitulated in 3D neuronal aggregates. To this end, we analyzed the accumulation and secretion of Aβ peptides, as well as the phosphorylation state of tau.

In non-infected 3D cultures, no detectable signal for Aβ or phosphorylated tau was observed. In contrast, HSV-1-infected cultures exhibited clear intracellular Aβ accumulation, as revealed by immunofluorescence using antibodies specific for Aβ40 and Aβ42. Higher magnification images showed that Aβ accumulation occurred in ICP4-positive cells, indicating its association with active viral infection (Figure 7A). ELISA quantification of extracellular Aβ confirmed a strong reduction in secreted Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels (Figure 7B). Furthermore, immunostaining with phospho-tau-specific antibodies revealed a robust accumulation of phosphorylated tau at Thr205 and Ser422 epitopes in infected neurons, forming a punctate cytoplasmic pattern similar to that previously described in 2D LUHMES cultures (Figure 7C). Consistently, Western blot analysis revealed a marked increase in tau phosphorylation at the Ser202 and Thr231 epitopes in HSV-1–infected 3D neuronal cultures (Figure 7D), further supporting the induction of AD-like pathological features by the virus.

To investigate whether the lysosomal dysfunction previously detected in 2D LUHMES neurons also occurs under 3D conditions, we examined markers of the autophagy-lysosome pathway in infected aggregates. Immunofluorescence analysis showed a pronounced accumulation of LC3 in infected neurons, suggesting a blockage in autophagosome turnover (Figure 7E). In parallel, a significant decrease in LTR fluorescence was detected, suggesting a loss of lysosomal acidity and/or reduced lysosomal quantity (Figure 7F). Consistent with these observations, the enzymatic activity of lysosomal cathepsins D, E and S was markedly decreased in infected 3D cultures compared with controls, indicating impaired proteolytic capacity (Figure 7G). Collectively, these findings demonstrate that HSV-1 infection disrupts lysosomal function in differentiated 3D LUHMES neurons, mirroring the alterations previously identified in 2D models and supporting a conserved mechanism of virus-induced lysosomal dysfunction.

In summary, the 3D LUHMES neuronal model faithfully recapitulates the AD-like neuropathological alterations induced by HSV-1, providing a physiologically relevant human system to investigate the mechanistic link between viral infection and neurodegeneration. These data further strengthen the hypothesis that HSV-1 may act as an environmental factor contributing to AD pathogenesis by disrupting neuronal homeostasis and protein clearance mechanisms.

3. Discussion

AD is the most common cause of dementia and represents an increasing global health challenge. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, and effective disease-modifying therapies are still lacking. The growing prevalence of AD highlights the urgent need for experimental models that more faithfully reproduce the complexity of the human disease and overcome the limitations of current research systems. The present study provides significant insights into the potential link between HSV-1 infection and AD pathology, specifically emphasizing the value of LUHMES-derived neuronal models in understanding this relationship. Our results reinforce the growing body of evidence positioning HSV-1 as a meaningful environmental risk factor contributing to neurodegeneration characteristic of AD.

The LUHMES cell line, derived from human embryonic mesencephalic precursor cells, offers critical advantages for studying infection-associated neurodegeneration. These cells exhibit both proliferative and neuronal differentiation states [21], enabling the examination of infection from initial viral entry to mature neuronal dysfunction. Their stable and homogeneous differentiation into neuron-like cells under defined conditions provides high reproducibility—an essential feature for mechanistic dissection and pharmacological screening. Another major strength of the LUHMES model is its adaptability to both 2D and 3D culture systems [30]. While 2D cultures facilitate high-throughput exploration of viral and host responses, 3D cultures more closely reproduce the spatial organization, cell–cell communication, and microenvironmental complexity of the human brain.

The LUHMES neuronal model also provides an effective human platform for studying how neurotropic viruses disrupt neuronal homeostasis. Previous studies have demonstrated that LUHMES neurons can be efficiently infected by HSV-1, supporting both lytic and latent infection modes in 2D systems [27,31]. Beyond HSV-1, LUHMES progenitors and differentiated neurons are also permissive to other neurotropic viruses, including hemorrhagic fever and Zika viruses [26], further validating the model´s versatility for studying virus–neuron interactions.

One of the main goals of this study was to establish a model of lytic HSV-1 infection in 3D LUHMES neuronal cultures. Using an orbital shaking-based method originally developed for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived neurons [30,32], we generated uniform spheroidal aggregates that mimic key features of neuronal architecture. The results obtained from the evaluation of various viral parameters demonstrated the ability of HSV-1 to efficiently infect different types of LUHMES cultures, including both 2D proliferative and differentiated cells, as well as 3D neuronal aggregates. First, a dose-dependent increase in the expression of viral proteins was observed. Since these proteins are expressed at distinct stages of the viral replication cycle (ICP4 is an α gene expressed at the immediate-early stage; gB is a β gene expressed during the early phase; and gC and gD are “true late” γ2 genes whose expression strictly depends on viral DNA replication), these findings suggest that the virus is capable of completing its full replication cycle in 3D aggregates. Second, qPCR analysis revealed the presence of HSV-1 DNA in the 3D neuronal cultures, confirming the replicative capacity of the virus. Finally, immunofluorescence assays detected the expression of ICP4 and the viral glycoproteins gC and gB/gD throughout the entire 3D aggregates. Collectively, these data demonstrate the ability of HSV-1 to efficiently infect and replicate in 3D cultures of LUHMES-derived neurons, underscoring the model´s potential for studying virus–induced neurodegeneration.

We further show that HSV-1 infection elicits hallmark AD-like alterations in proliferative and differentiated LUHMES cells across both 2D and 3D culture systems, including intracellular Aβ accumulation and robust tau hyperphosphorylation. These findings extend our previous observations in other neuronal cell systems [12,13,29,33], and strengthen the concept that HSV-1 can simultaneously disrupt Aβ metabolism and tau regulation—two central drivers of AD pathology. These observations are consistent with epidemiological studies and neuropathological analyses identifying HSV-1 DNA in brain regions significantly affected by AD [11,34]. The accumulation of Aβ peptides accompanied by a reduction in their extracellular secretion, suggests that HSV-1 interferes with the proteolytic processing of APP, potentially through the modulation of -, β- and γ-secretase activity. The inhibition of A secretion could underlie the intracellular accumulation of A induced by HSV-1 infection. Given the proposed antimicrobial function of Aβ [35], this buildup may initially reflect an innate antiviral response that, if chronically activated, could contribute to neurotoxicity and plaque formation.

In parallel, the marked increase in tau phosphorylation at multiple AD-related epitopes (Ser202, Thr205, Thr231, and Ser422) highlights the ability of HSV-1 to disturb tau homeostasis. This extensive pattern of hyperphosphorylation suggests broad dysregulation of kinase activity, possibly through HSV-1-induced activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)—enzymes known to target these residues [36]. Notably, our group previously demonstrated that inhibitors of several CDKs were able to reverse tau phosphorylation at Ser409, Ser396, and Ser404 epitopes in an HSV-1 infection model using the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC [13], further supporting the involvement of CDK-related pathways in HSV-1–induced tau dysregulation. Similar phosphorylation profiles in both proliferative and differentiated LUHMES cells indicate that this disruption is independent of maturation stage, reflecting a generalized perturbation of tau regulation by HSV-1.

Beyond classical neuropathological markers, our results reveal HSV-1-induced impairment of autophagy-lysosome function, evidenced by LC3-II accumulation, impaired lysosomal burden, and reduced cathepsin activity. These data suggest a block in autophagosome maturation and lysosomal acidification/enzymatic function. Consistent with this, our group previously reported that HSV-1 infection in human neuroblastoma cells leads to inhibition of late stages of the autophagic process and profound dysfunction of the lysosomal pathway, reinforcing the notion that this virus profoundly interferes with cellular degradative systems [33,37]. Such alterations are known to occur early in AD and provide a mechanistic link between defective proteostasis, Aβ accumulation, and tau dysregulation [19]. Thus, HSV-1 may not only mimic but also accelerate the neurodegenerative cascade through sustained impairment of cellular clearance pathways.

Taken together, our findings demonstrate that HSV-1 can reproduce core AD-like pathological signatures across different stages of neuronal differentiation. The ability of the virus to modulate both APP processing and tau phosphorylation highlights its potential role as a multifactorial driver of neurodegeneration. These data support the growing body of evidence linking latent or recurrent HSV-1 infection to the molecular events underlying sporadic AD [38,39,40]. Further investigation using 3D LUHMES-based cultures and single-cell transcriptomic approaches will help elucidate the cellular pathways and signaling networks through which HSV-1 contributes to neurodegenerative processes in the human brain.

To date, only a few studies have employed LUHMES cells to investigate HSV-1 infection, and most of these have focused on establishing and characterizing latent infection in conventional 2D cultures [27,28,31]. Consequently, the effects of productive HSV-1 infection and its impact on neuronal integrity, protein homeostasis, and AD-like pathological hallmarks have not been explored. Although several 3D models of HSV-1 infection have been previously reported in different human neuronal systems [41,42,43], to our knowledge, this work reports for the first time the establishment of a 3D LUHMES model of HSV-1 infection, which recapitulates major AD-related features in a human neuronal context. This represents a key advance toward reproducing virus-induced neurodegeneration under physiologically relevant conditions. A priority for future work in our group is to expand this system to model HSV-1 latency and reactivation. HSV-1 latency has been successfully established in 2D LUHMES neuronal cultures [27]. Although a few studies have described latent HSV-1 infection in 3D brain organoids derived from human iPSCs [42,44], these models often display high complexity and heterogeneity, which may limit mechanistic analyses. To our knowledge, no 3D model of latent HSV-1 infection has yet been developed using LUHMES-derived neurons, to investigate the latent state or to evaluate how reactivation contributes to neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. The implementation of such a 3D latency model would represent a valuable tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which HSV-1 persistence leads to progressive neuronal damage and AD-related pathology.

In conclusion, our study underscores the potential of LUHMES-derived neuronal models as a translational platform to elucidate the interplay between HSV-1 infection and AD pathology. The ability to simulate key neuropathological features of AD in response to HSV-1 infection within these human-derived neuronal cells provides a powerful framework for future research. Ultimately, insights derived from these models may significantly advance our understanding of virus-induced neurodegeneration, uncover potential therapeutic targets, and guide the development of effective interventions to mitigate HSV-1-associated neurodegenerative processes.

4. Materials and Methods

• Cell Culture and Differentiation

LUHMES human neuronal precursor cells (BioCat GmbH) were cultured as previously described [21]. Briefly, cells were maintained in Nunclon Delta-treated culture plates (ThermoFisher Scientific) pre-coated with 50 μg/mL poly-L-ornithine (Sigma-Aldrich) and 1 μg/mL fibronectin (Sigma-Aldrich). Cells were cultured in proliferation medium composed of Advanced DMEM/F12 supplemented with GlutaMAX^TM (Gibco), 1% N2 supplement (Gibco), 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 40 ng/mL recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; R&D Systems). Cell passages were performed every 3–4 days.

Neuronal differentiation of LUHMES cultures was performed following previously established protocols [24,30]. For 2D differentiation, cells were switched to differentiation medium containing Advanced DMEM/F12 supplemented with GlutaMAX^TM, 1% N2 supplement, 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 2 μg/mL tetracycline (Sigma-Aldrich), and maintained for 7 days with medium changes every 2–3 days. For 3D differentiations, 5 x 10⁵ LUHMES cells were seeded in 6-well non-treated plates (Falcon) containing differentiation medium and cultured under orbital agitation at 90 rpm (Celltron shaker system; INFORS HT). The medium was renewed every 2–3 days. To inhibit residual proliferation, taxol (10 nM; paclitaxel, Sigma-Aldrich) was added on day 3 of differentiation and removed two days later. 3D neuronal aggregates were maintained in differentiation medium for 14 days. After 7 days in 2D cultures and 14 days in 3D cultures, neuronal maturation was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy and by evaluating marker expression using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays.

All LUHMES cultures were incubated at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO₂.

HSV-1

Infection

2D LUHMES cultures were infected with the wild-type HSV-1 strain KOS 1.1 (kindly provided by Dr. L. Carrasco) at different MOI and for various time points as indicated in each experiment. Cells were incubated in a viral solution for 1 hour at 37º C. Then, the unbound virus was removed and replaced with fresh culture medium. Cells were maintained at 37º C until their collection. Differentiated 2D cultures were infected after 7 days of differentiation.

3D LUHMES aggregates were infected after 14 days of differentiation using different viral doses and incubation times, as specified in each experiment. A fluorescent HSV-1 strain expressing GFP fused to the UL46 tegument protein (UL46-GFP) [45] was also used in selected assays. At 18 hpi, the culture medium was replaced to remove residual extracellular virus, and samples were collected at 4 days post-infection.

Control cultures (mock) were incubated with virus-free suspensions and processed using identical procedures. Both HSV-1 strains were propagated and purified from Vero cells, as previously described [46]. Viral titers in cell culture supernatants were determined by plaque assays as previously described [47].

• Viral DNA Quantification

Total DNA was purified using the NZY Tissue gDNA Isolation kit (NZYtech) following the manufacturer’s instructions. HSV-1 DNA levels were quantified by real-time qPCR using a CFX-384 Real-Time PCR System (Bio-Rad) and a custom-designed TaqMan assay targeting the US12 viral gene (forward primer: 5’-CGTACGCGATGAGATCAATAAAAGG-3’; reverse primer: 5’-GCTCCGGGTCGTGCA-3’; TaqMan probe: 5’-AGGCGGCCAGAACC-3’). Viral DNA content was normalized to the amount of human genomic DNA using a predesigned TaqMan assay for the 18S rRNA gene (Hs9999991_s1; Applied Biosystems). Data were analyzed using Bio Rad CFX maestro 2.2. software. Quantification results are expressed as the number of HSV-1 DNA copies per ng of genomic DNA.

• Immunofluorescence Analysis

2D cultures. Cells grown on glass coverslips were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and permeabilized with blocking solution containing 2% foetal calf serum and 0.2% Triton X-100 in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Coverslips were then incubated with the corresponding primary antibodies followed by Alexa Fluor-coupled secondary antibodies, both diluted in blocking solution (Table 1). Finally, nuclei were counterstained with 4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; Merck) in PBS and mounted on glass slides using Mowiol mounting medium (Sigma-Aldrich). All procedures were carried out at room temperature (RT) with samples protected from light.

3D cultures. LUHMES 3D aggregates were collected in 1.5 mL tubes, and immunofluorescence analysis was performed as previously described [30]. Briefly, aggregates were washed once with cold PBS and fixed with 2% PFA for 1 hour at 4 °C. After fixation, samples were permeabilized with blocking buffer containing 10% foetal calf serum, 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.15% saponin in PBS for 1 hour at 4 °C under gentle agitation. Primary antibody incubation was performed in 4-well or 24-well plates for 96 hours at 4 °C under agitation, using antibodies diluted in blocking buffer. Then, samples were incubated with Alexa Fluor-coupled secondary antibodies for 72 hours at 4 °C under the same conditions. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI for 1 hour at RT with agitation. Finally, for sample clearing and mounting, RapiClear 1.49 (Sunjin Lab) was used. Aggregates were mounted using 0.25 mm iSpacers (Sunjin Lab) adhered to microscope slides. Aggregates were placed within the iSpacers with minimal PBS, and the chamber was filled with RapiClear 1.49 before sealing with a coverslip. Slides were left to dry overnight at RT and stored at 4 °C in the dark until imaging.

Fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Sample visualization was carried out using an inverted Axiovert 200M widefield microsope (ZEISS) coupled to a PCO edge 4.2 bi camera and a laser scanning ZEISS LSM900 confocal vertical system coupled to an Axio Imager 2 upright microscope (ZEISS). Images were acquired using 40x or 63x oil immersion objectives for cellular visualization and a 20x objective to capture complete 3D aggregates. For 3D cultures, images at 20x magnification were obtained from the central optical plane after acquiring a complete z-stack through the aggregate. Immunofluorescence images were acquired using Metamorph 7.10.5.476 or ZEN Blue 3.4 imaging software and subsequently processed with Fiji/ImageJ v1.54r and Adobe Photoshop 22.1.1.

• Cell Lysates and Western Blot Analysis

Cell lysates were prepared by incubating samples in the radioimmunoprecipitation assay (enzymaticRIPA) buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 50 mM NaCl, 1% Nonidet P-40, 0.2% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and 1 mM EDTA) supplemented with protease (CompleteTM Mini, EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail, Roche) and phosphatase (PhosSTOPTM, Roche) inhibitors. Protein concentrations in the cell lysates were determined by bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA, Thermo Fisher Scientific) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Equal amounts of protein were resolved by Laemmli discontinuous SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were blocked with either 3% BSA and 0.2% Tween 20 in PBS or 5% non-fat milk and 0.2% Tween 20 in PBS. Incubations with primary and peroxidase-coupled secondary antibodies (Table 1) were performed for 1 hour at RT. Finally, protein bands were detected using enhanced chemiluminescence reagents (ECL, Amersham Biosciences) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Densitometric quantification of protein bands was performed using Image Lab 6.0.1 software (Bio-Rad).

• Quantification of mRNA Levels

mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-qPCR. Total RNA was isolated using the NZY Total RNA Isolation kit (NZYtech). Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from total RNA using the High-Capacity RNA-to-cDNA Kit (Applied Biosystems). cDNAs were amplified by PCR using primers specific for neural progenitor and neuronal genes (Table 2). Gene expression values were normalized to β-actin, used as a reference gene due to its stable expression across experimental conditions. Real-time qPCR assays were performed in a CFX-384 Real-Time PCR System (Bio-Rad), and data were analyzed using Bio Rad CFX maestro 2.2. software.

• Secreted Aβ Measurements

Conditioned media from control and HSV-1-infected samples were assayed for human Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels using commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Wako), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Culture media were first collected and inactivated by ultraviolet exposure. After centrifugation, supernatants were stored at −70 °C until use. Prior to analysis, samples were concentrated by lyophilization and resuspended in PBS. An 8-fold concentration was applied for LUHMES 2D cultures and a 4-fold concentration for 3D LUHMES aggregate media. Detection was based on a colorimetric reaction generated by the anti-Aβ detection antibody, and absorbance was measured at 450 nm using a Model 680 microplate reader (Bio-Rad). Final concentrations of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were expressed as picomoles per liter (pM) of culture medium.

• Quantification of Lysosome Load

Lysosomal load was assessed using the acidotropic probe LTR (ThermoFisher Scientific), which freely diffuses across cell membranes and accumulates in acidic organelles. One hour before the end of the treatment period, cells were incubated with 0.5 µM LTR in culture medium for 1 hour at 37º C and subsequently washed with PBS. Cells were then lysed in RIPA buffer and centrifuged at 13,000 × g for 10 min. Protein concentration in the lysates was determined using the BCA assay. LTR fluorescence intensity in the cell lysates was measured using a FLUOstar OPTIMA microplate reader (BMG LABTECH) with excitation and emission wavelengths of 560 nm and 590 nm, respectively.

• Cathepsin Activity Assays

The enzymatic activity of cathepsins was determined as previously described, with minor modifications [48]. Briefly, cells were lysed under gentle shaking in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) containing 0.1 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, and 0.2% Triton X-100. Lysates were clarified by centrifugation, and the supernatants were immediately used for the determination of proteolytic activity. A total of 25 µg (cathepsin D/E assay) or 100 µg (cathepsin S assay) of protein from each lysate was incubated for 30 minutes at 37º C with the following fluorogenic substrates (Enzo Life Sciences): Z-VVR-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Z-VVR-AMC; 20 µM), a specific substrate for cathepsin S, and Mca-GKPILFFRLK(Dnp)-D-Arg-NH₂ (10 µM), a fluorogenic substrate for cathepsins D and E. Fluorescence resulting from substrate cleavage was measured using a Spark® multimode microplate reader (Tecan) with excitation/emission wavelengths of 360/430 nm for cathepsin S substrate and 320/400 nm for the cathepsin D/E substrate.

• Statistical Analysis

Statistical differences between groups were analyzed pairwise using a two-tailed Student’s t-test, or a one-sample t-test when data were expressed as relative values. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 (*), p < 0.01 (**), and p < 0.001 (***). The statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad software.