scholarly journals Zika virus induces neuronal and vascular degeneration in developing mouse retina

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Li ◽  
Shuizhen Shi ◽  
Fan Xia ◽  
Chao Shan ◽  
Yonju Ha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Mouse Retina ◽  
Retinal Inflammation ◽  
Retinal Structure ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Causative Link

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, can cause severe eye disease and even blindness in newborns. However, ZIKV-induced retinal lesions have not been studied in a comprehensive way, mechanisms of ZIKV-induced retinal abnormalities are unknown, and no therapeutic intervention is available to treat or minimize the degree of vision loss in patients. Here, we developed a novel mouse model of ZIKV infection to evaluate its impact on retinal structure. ZIKV (20 plaque-forming units) was inoculated into neonatal wild type C57BL/6J mice at postnatal day (P) 0 subcutaneously. Retinas of infected mice and age-matched controls were collected at various ages, and retinal structural alterations were analyzed. We found that ZIKV induced progressive neuronal and vascular damage and retinal inflammation starting from P8. ZIKV-infected retina exhibited dramatically decreased thickness with loss of neurons, initial neovascular tufts followed by vessel dilation and degeneration, increased microglia and leukocyte recruitment and activation, degeneration of astrocyte network and gliosis. The above changes may involve inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated cell apoptosis and necroptosis. Moreover, we evaluated the efficacy of preclinical drugs and the safety of ZIKV vaccine candidate in this mouse model. We found that ZIKV-induced retinal abnormalities could be blocked by a selective flavivirus inhibitor NITD008 and a live-attenuated ZIKV vaccine candidate could potentially induce retinal abnormalities. Overall, we established a novel mouse model and provide a direct causative link between ZIKV and retinal lesion in vivo, which warrants further investigation of the underlying mechanisms of ZIKV-induced retinopathy and the development of effective therapeutics.

scholarly journals Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Vaccine-Induced Human Antibodies Mediate Negligible Enhancement of Zika Virus Infection In Vitro and in a Mouse Model

mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Duehr ◽  
Silviana Lee ◽  
Gursewak Singh ◽  
Gregory A. Foster ◽  
David Krysztof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Human Plasma ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus

ABSTRACT Recent reports in the scientific literature have suggested that anti-dengue virus (DENV) and anti-West Nile virus (WNV) immunity exacerbates Zika virus (ZIKV) pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo in mouse models. Large populations of immune individuals exist for a related flavivirus (tick-borne encephalitis virus [TBEV]), due to large-scale vaccination campaigns and endemic circulation throughout most of northern Europe and the southern Russian Federation. As a result, the question of whether anti-TBEV immunity can affect Zika virus pathogenesis is a pertinent one. For this study, we obtained 50 serum samples from individuals vaccinated with the TBEV vaccine FSME-IMMUN (Central European/Neudörfl strain) and evaluated their enhancement capacity in vitro using K562 human myeloid cells expressing CD32 and in vivo using a mouse model of ZIKV pathogenesis. Among the 50 TBEV vaccinee samples evaluated, 29 had detectable reactivity against ZIKV envelope (E) protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 36 showed enhancement of ZIKV infection in vitro. A pool of the most highly reacting and enhanced samples resulted in no significant change in the morbidity/mortality of ZIKV disease in immunocompromised Stat2−/− mice. Our results suggest that humoral immunity against TBEV is unlikely to enhance Zika virus pathogenesis in humans. No clinical reports indicating that TBEV vaccinees experiencing enhanced ZIKV disease have been published so far, and though the epidemiological data are sparse, our findings suggest that there is little reason for concern. This study also displays a clear relationship between the phylogenetic distance between two flaviviruses and their capacity for pathogenic enhancement. IMPORTANCE The relationship between serial infections of two different serotypes of dengue virus and more severe disease courses is well-documented in the literature, driven by so-called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Recently, studies have shown the possibility of ADE in cells exposed to anti-DENV human plasma and then infected with ZIKV and also in mouse models of ZIKV pathogenesis after passive transfer of anti-DENV human plasma. In this study, we evaluated the extent to which this phenomenon occurs using sera from individuals immunized against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). This is highly relevant, since large proportions of the European population are vaccinated against TBEV or otherwise seropositive.

scholarly journals Dorsal-Ventral Differences in Retinal Structure in the Pigmented Royal College of Surgeons Model of Retinal Degeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Una Greferath ◽  
Mario Huynh ◽  
Andrew Ian Jobling ◽  
Kirstan Anne Vessey ◽  
Gene Venables ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Mononuclear Phagocytes ◽  
Subretinal Space ◽  
Striking Difference ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Rcs Rat ◽  
Retinal Structure

Retinitis pigmentosa is a family of inherited retinal degenerations associated with gradual loss of photoreceptors, that ultimately leads to irreversible vision loss. The Royal College of Surgeon's (RCS) rat carries a recessive mutation affecting mer proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (merTK), that models autosomal recessive disease. The aim of this study was to understand the glial, microglial, and photoreceptor changes that occur in different retinal locations with advancing disease. Pigmented RCS rats (RCS-p+/LAV) and age-matched isogenic control rdy (RCS-rdy +p+/LAV) rats aged postnatal day 18 to 6 months were evaluated for in vivo retinal structure and function using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. Retinal tissues were assessed using high resolution immunohistochemistry to evaluate changes in photoreceptors, glia and microglia in the dorsal, and ventral retina. Photoreceptor dysfunction and death occurred from 1 month of age. There was a striking difference in loss of photoreceptors between the dorsal and ventral retina, with a greater number of photoreceptors surviving in the dorsal retina, despite being adjacent a layer of photoreceptor debris within the subretinal space. Loss of photoreceptors in the ventral retina was associated with fragmentation of the outer limiting membrane, extension of glial processes into the subretinal space that was accompanied by possible adhesion and migration of mononuclear phagocytes in the subretinal space. Overall, these findings highlight that breakdown of the outer limiting membrane could play an important role in exacerbating photoreceptor loss in the ventral retina. Our results also highlight the value of using the RCS rat to model sectorial retinitis pigmentosa, a disease known to predominantly effect the inferior retina.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-139-3p Suppresses Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Repressing ANXA2R

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1391-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng Cheng Zou ◽  
Min Dai ◽  
Zeng Yin Huang ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
He Ping Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Tumor Growth And Metastasis ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Hcc Cells

The direct roles of miR-139-3p on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth and metastasis remain poorly understood. We attempted to demonstrate the regulatory role of miR-139-3p in HCC progression and its underlying mechanisms. Here we showed that miR-139-3p expression was significantly reduced in the HCC tissues compared to paratumor tissues. Exogenous overexpression of miR-139-3p inhibited the migration and invasion of HCC cells, whereas downregulation of miR-139-3p was able to induce HCC HepG2 and SNU-449 cell migration and invasion. In addition, miR-139-3p inhibited HCC growth and lung metastasis in an in vivo mouse model, which is mainly regulated by annexin A2 receptor (ANXA2R). Finally, we identified that the expression of miR-139-3p was inversely correlated with ANXA2R expression in human HCC tissue. All these results demonstrated that miR-139-3p inhibited the metastasis process in HCC by downregulating ANXA2R expression.

scholarly journals Enemy of My Enemy: A Novel Insect-Specific Flavivirus Offers a Promising Platform for a Zika Virus Vaccine

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1142
Author(s):  
Danielle Porier ◽  
Sarah Wilson ◽  
Dawn Auguste ◽  
Andrew Leber ◽  
Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Single Dose ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Trade Offs

Vaccination remains critical for viral disease outbreak prevention and control, but conventional vaccine development typically involves trade-offs between safety and immunogenicity. We used a recently discovered insect-specific flavivirus as a vector in order to develop an exceptionally safe, flavivirus vaccine candidate with single-dose efficacy. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this platform, we created a chimeric Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine candidate, designated Aripo/Zika virus (ARPV/ZIKV). ZIKV has caused immense economic and public health impacts throughout the Americas and remains a significant public health threat. ARPV/ZIKV vaccination showed exceptional safety due to ARPV/ZIKV’s inherent vertebrate host-restriction. ARPV/ZIKV showed no evidence of replication or translation in vitro and showed no hematological, histological or pathogenic effects in vivo. A single-dose immunization with ARPV/ZIKV induced rapid and robust neutralizing antibody and cellular responses, which offered complete protection against ZIKV-induced morbidity, mortality and in utero transmission in immune-competent and -compromised murine models. Splenocytes derived from vaccinated mice demonstrated significant CD4+ and CD8+ responses and significant cytokine production post-antigen exposure. Altogether, our results further support that chimeric insect-specific flaviviruses are a promising strategy to restrict flavivirus emergence via vaccine development.

scholarly journals The Fold Variant BM4 Is Beneficial in a Therapeutic Bet v 1 Mouse Model

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Pichler ◽  
Claudia Asam ◽  
Richard Weiss ◽  
Almedina Isakovic ◽  
Michael Hauser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Lung Inflammation ◽  
Specific Immunotherapy ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Birch Pollen ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Bet V 1 ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Blocking Antibodies

Background. Specific immunotherapy using recombinant allergens is clinically effective; still wild-type allergens can provoke treatment-induced side effects and often show poor immunogenicityin vivo. Thus, we tested the low IgE-binding, highly immunogenic fold variant BM4 in a Bet v 1 mouse model.Methods. Recombinant BM4 was used as active vaccine ingredient to treat mice sensitized to Bet v 1. As controls, mice were treated with either Bet v 1 or sham, and the humoral as well as cellular immune response was monitored. Moreover, lung function and lung inflammation were analysed.Results. BM4 was more effective than wild-type Bet v 1 in inducing Bet v 1-specific blocking antibodies as well as IFN-γand IL-10 producing T cells. Further, birch pollen induced lung inflammation could be ameliorated significantly by BM4 treatment as demonstrated by a reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness and drastically decreased eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.Conclusion. The study outlines the high potential of BM4 as vaccine candidate for the treatment of Bet v 1-mediated birch pollen allergies.

scholarly journals Syndecan-1 is overexpressed in human thoracic aneurysm but is dispensable for the disease progression in vivo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Zalghout ◽  
Sophie Vo ◽  
Veronique Arocas ◽  
Soumaya Jadoui ◽  
Eva Hamade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Aortic Wall ◽  
Vascular Wall ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Abdominal Aneurysm ◽  
Potential Implication ◽  
Elastin Degradation ◽  
Model Combining ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) pooling has been considered since long as one of the histopathological characteristics defining thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) together with smooth muscle cells (SMCs) apoptosis and elastin fibers degradation. However, few information is provided about GAGs composition or potential implication in TAA pathology. Syndecan-1 (Sdc-1) is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is implicated in extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction and assembly, regulation of SMCs phenotype and various aspects of inflammation in the vascular wall. In the current work, the regulation of Sdc-1 protein was examined in human TAA by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the role of Sdc-1 was evaluated in descending TAA in vivo using a mouse model combining both aortic wall weakening and hypertension. Our results showed that Sdc-1 protein is over expressed in human TAA aortas compared to healthy counterparts and that SMCs are the major cell type expressing Sdc-1. Similarly, in the mouse model used, Sdc-1 expression was increased in TAA aortas compared to healthy samples. Although its protective role against abdominal aneurysm has been reported, we observed that Sdc-1 was dispensable for TAA prevalence or rupture. In addition, Sdc-1 deficiency did not alter the extent of aortic wall dilatation, elastin degradation, collagen deposition, or leukocyte recruitment in our TAA model. These findings suggest that Sdc-1 could be a biomarker revealing TAA pathology. Future investigations could uncover the underlying mechanisms leading to Sdc-1 expression alteration in TAA.

scholarly journals A single-dose live attenuated chimeric vaccine candidate against Zika virus

npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Xin Chin ◽  
Regina Ching Hua Lee ◽  
Parveen Kaur ◽  
Tian Sheng Lew ◽  
Thinesshwary Yogarajah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Vaccine ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Live Attenuated Vaccine ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Plaque Phenotype ◽  
Chimeric Vaccine

AbstractThe mosquito-borne Zika virus is an emerging pathogen from the Flavivirus genus for which there are no approved antivirals or vaccines. Using the clinically validated PDK-53 dengue virus vaccine strain as a backbone, we created a chimeric dengue/Zika virus, VacDZ, as a live attenuated vaccine candidate against Zika virus. VacDZ demonstrates key markers of attenuation: small plaque phenotype, temperature sensitivity, attenuation of neurovirulence in suckling mice, and attenuation of pathogenicity in interferon deficient adult AG129 mice. VacDZ may be administered as a traditional live virus vaccine, or as a DNA-launched vaccine that produces live VacDZ in vivo after delivery. Both vaccine formulations induce a protective immune response against Zika virus in AG129 mice, which includes neutralising antibodies and a strong Th1 response. This study demonstrates that VacDZ is a safe and effective vaccine candidate against Zika virus.

scholarly journals Implication of N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor in Homocysteine-Induced Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9356
Author(s):  
Yara A. Samra ◽  
Dina Kira ◽  
Pragya Rajpurohit ◽  
Riyaz Mohamed ◽  
Leah A. Owen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Aspartate Receptor ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Retinal Structure

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) (Hyperhomocysteinemia) (HHcy) has been reported in AMD. We previously reported that HHcy induces AMD-like features. This study suggests that N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a mechanism for HHcy-induced AMD. Serum Hcy and cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) were assessed by ELISA. The involvement of NMDAR in Hcy-induced AMD features was evaluated (1) in vitro using ARPE-19 cells, primary RPE isolated from HHcy mice (CBS), and mouse choroidal endothelial cells (MCEC); (2) in vivo using wild-type mice and mice deficient in RPE NMDAR (NMDARR-/-) with/without Hcy injection. Isolectin-B4, Ki67, HIF-1α, VEGF, NMDAR1, and albumin were assessed by immunofluorescence (IF), Western blot (WB), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FA) to evaluate retinal structure, fluorescein leakage, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A neovascular AMD patient’s serum showed a significant increase in Hcy and a decrease in CBS. Hcy significantly increased HIF-1α, VEGF, and NMDAR in RPE cells, and Ki67 in MCEC. Hcy-injected WT mice showed disrupted retina and CNV. Knocking down RPE NMDAR improved retinal structure and CNV. Our findings underscore the role of RPE NMDAR in Hcy-induced AMD features; thus, NMDAR inhibition could serve as a promising therapeutic target for AMD.

scholarly journals Protective Efficacy of a Dietary Supplement Based on Forskolin, Homotaurine, Spearmint Extract, and Group B Vitamins in a Mouse Model of Optic Nerve Injury

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Locri ◽  
Maurizio Cammalleri ◽  
Massimo Dal Monte ◽  
Dario Rusciano ◽  
Paola Bagnoli
Keyword(s):  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Photopic Negative Response ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Nerve Crush ◽  
Diet Supplement ◽  
Group B

Glaucoma is a multifactorial blinding disease with a major inflammatory component ultimately leading to apoptotic retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Pharmacological treatments lowering intraocular pressure can help slow or prevent vision loss although the damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Recently, nutritional approaches have been evaluated for their efficacy in preventing degenerative events in the retina although mechanisms underlying their effectiveness remain to be elucidated. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a diet supplement consisting of forskolin, homotaurine, spearmint extract, and vitamins of the B group in counteracting retinal dysfunction in a mouse model of optic nerve crush (ONC) used as an in vivo model of glaucoma. After demonstrating that ONC did not affect retinal vasculature by fluorescein angiography, we determined the effect of the diet supplement on the photopic negative response (PhNR) whose amplitude is strictly related to RGC integrity and is therefore drastically reduced in concomitance with RGC death. We found that the diet supplementation prevents the reduction of PhNR amplitude (p < 0.001) and concomitantly counteracts RGC death, as in supplemented mice, RGC number assessed immunohistochemically is significantly higher than that in non-supplemented animals (p < 0.01). Major determinants of the protective efficacy of the compound are due to a reduction of ONC-associated cytokine secretion leading to decreased levels of apoptotic markers that in supplemented mice are significantly lower than in non-supplemented animals (p < 0.001), ultimately causing RGC survival and ameliorated visual dysfunction. Overall, our data suggest that the above association of compounds plays a neuroprotective role in this mouse model of glaucoma thus offering a new perspective in inflammation-associated neurodegenerative diseases of the inner retina.

scholarly journals Hypoxia-induced inflammation: Profiling the first 24-hour posthypoxic plasma and central nervous system changes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0246681
Author(s):  
Louise A. Mesentier-Louro ◽  
Barbara Rangel ◽  
Laurel Stell ◽  
M. Ali Shariati ◽  
Roopa Dalal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Tissue Edema ◽  
Systemic Hypoxia ◽  
Retinal Inflammation

Central nervous system and visual dysfunction is an unfortunate consequence of systemic hypoxia in the setting of cardiopulmonary disease, including infection with SARS-CoV-2, high-altitude cerebral edema and retinopathy and other conditions. Hypoxia-induced inflammatory signaling may lead to retinal inflammation, gliosis and visual disturbances. We investigated the consequences of systemic hypoxia using serial retinal optical coherence tomography and by assessing the earliest changes within 24h after hypoxia by measuring a proteomics panel of 39 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in the plasma and retina, as well as using retinal histology. We induced severe systemic hypoxia in adult C57BL/6 mice using a hypoxia chamber (10% O2) for 1 week and rapidly assessed measurements within 1h compared with 18h after hypoxia. Optical coherence tomography revealed retinal tissue edema at 18h after hypoxia. Hierarchical clustering of plasma and retinal immune molecules revealed obvious segregation of the 1h posthypoxia group away from that of controls. One hour after hypoxia, there were 10 significantly increased molecules in plasma and 4 in retina. Interleukin-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor were increased in both tissues. Concomitantly, there was significantly increased aquaporin-4, decreased Kir4.1, and increased gliosis in retinal histology. In summary, the immediate posthypoxic period is characterized by molecular changes consistent with systemic and retinal inflammation and retinal glial changes important in water transport, leading to tissue edema. This posthypoxic inflammation rapidly improves within 24h, consistent with the typically mild and transient visual disturbance in hypoxia, such as in high-altitude retinopathy. Given hypoxia increases risk of vision loss, more studies in at-risk patients, such as plasma immune profiling and in vivo retinal imaging, are needed in order to identify novel diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers of visual impairment in systemic hypoxia.

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