Abstract
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death, which maintains cellular
homeostasis by eliminating pathogen-infected cells. It contains three
signaling pathways: death receptor pathway, mitochondria-mediated
pathway and endoplasmic reticulum pathway. Its importance in host
defenses is highlighted by the observation that many viruses evade,
hinder or destroy apoptosis, thereby weakening the host’s immune
response. Flaviviruses such as Dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus
and West Nile virus utilize various strategies to activate or inhibit
cell apoptosis. This article reviews the research progress of apoptosis
mechanism during flaviviruses infection, including flaviviruses proteins
to regulate apoptosis by interacting with host proteins, as well as
various signaling pathways involved in flaviviruses-induced apoptosis,
which provides a scientific basis for understanding the pathogenesis of
flaviviruses and helps in developing an effective antiviral therapy.