Neurons are major targets of both VSV and WNV.36,86 Neurons actively produce cytokines and regulate peripheral immune cell recruitment in the CNS upon viral infection.47 In fact, Peli1 was also highly expressed on WNV-infected neurons and adjacent inflammatory cells in postmortem brains from patients who died of acute WNV encephalitis.80 Regardless of the precise role of Peli1 in microglia, targeting Peli1 may regulate CNS inflammation during viral encephalitis, as Peli1 regulates proinflammatory responses in several inflammatory conditions. This evidence concerns the gene PELI1 and viral encephalitis.