scholarly journals Zika virus dysregulates the expression of astrocytic genes involved in neurodevelopment

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0009362
Author(s):  
Muhammad Adnan Shereen ◽  
Nadia Bashir ◽  
Rui Su ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Kailang Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Development ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Zikv Infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a kind of flavivirus emerged in French Polynesia and Brazil, and has led to a worldwide public health concern since 2016. ZIKV infection causes various neurological conditions, which are associated with fetus brain development or peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS/CNS) functional problems. To date, no vaccine or any specific antiviral therapy against ZIKV infection are available. It urgently needs efforts to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of ZIKV-induced neural pathogenesis. ZIKV favorably infects neural and glial cells specifically astrocytes, consequently dysregulating gene expression and pathways with impairment of process neural cells. In this study, we applied a model for ZIKV replication in mouse primary astrocytes (MPAs) and profiled temporal alterations in the host transcriptomes upon ZIKV infection. Among the RNA-sequencing data of 27,812 genes, we examined 710 genes were significantly differentially expressed by ZIKV, which lead to dysregulation of numerous functions including neurons development and migration, glial cells differentiation, myelinations, astrocytes projection, neurogenesis, and brain development, along with multiple pathways including Hippo signaling pathway, tight junction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and focal adhesion. Furthermore, we confirmed the dysregulation of the selected genes in MPAs and human astroglioma U251 cells. We found that PTBP1, LIF, GHR, and PTBP3 were upregulated while EDNRB and MBP were downregulated upon ZIKV infection. The current study highlights the ZIKV-mediated potential genes associated with neurodevelopment or related diseases.

scholarly journals Zika Virus sfRNA Plays an Essential Role in the Infection of Insects and Mammals

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Andrii Slonchak ◽  
Leon E. Hugo ◽  
Morgan Freney ◽  
Alberto A Amarilla ◽  
Sonja Hall-Mendelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Rnai Pathway ◽  
Type I ◽  
Zikv Infection

Similar to other flaviviruses, Zika virus (ZIKV) produces abundant subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) derived from the 3’ untranslated region. The molecular mechanisms that determine the functions of sfRNA are currently not completely understood. Here, we created ZIKV mutants deficient in sfRNA production and employed them to investigate the role of this RNA in virus interactions with mammalian and insect hosts. We found that in mosquitoes, sfRNA facilitates virus replication and is required for ZIKV dissemination into saliva and virus transmission. The production of sfRNA was found to have no effect on the RNAi pathway, but instead downregulated the expression of genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) of histological sections from infected mosquitoes confirmed that sfRNA prevents the apoptotic death of infected cells, thus identifying inhibition of apoptosis as a novel mechanism of sfRNA action in mosquitoes. We also found that sfRNA facilitates ZIKV replication in mammalian cells, mice, and human brain organoids. Moreover, ZIKV mutants deficient in sfRNA production were unable to form plaques, cause the death of human brain organoids, or establish infection in the mouse foetal brain. We then found that the proviral activity of sfRNA in mammalian cells relies on its ability to suppress type I interferon signalling. We showed that this is achieved via the inhibition of phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of STAT1. In addition, we found that the production of sfRNA in the ZIKV infection of human brain organoids is associated with the suppression of multiple genes involved in brain development, indicating that sfRNA can be involved in the disruption of brain development associated with ZIKV infection.

scholarly journals MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3026
Author(s):  
Hyuk Moon ◽  
Simon-Weonsang Ro
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Erk Signaling ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Major Health ◽  
Activating Mutations ◽  
Genetic Events

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health concern worldwide, and its incidence is increasing steadily. Recently, the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in HCC has gained renewed attention from basic and clinical researchers. The MAPK/ERK signaling pathway is activated in more than 50% of human HCC cases; however, activating mutations in RAS and RAF genes are rarely found in HCC, which are major genetic events leading to the activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in other cancers. This suggests that there is an alternative mechanism behind the activation of the signaling pathway in HCC. Here, we will review recent advances in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting the signaling pathway in the context of HCC.

scholarly journals Zika viruses of both African and Asian lineages cause fetal harm in a vertical transmission model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna S. Jaeger ◽  
Reyes A. Murreita ◽  
Lea R. Goren ◽  
Chelsea M. Crooks ◽  
Ryan V. Moriarty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Birth Defects ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Congenital Zika Syndrome

AbstractCongenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first linked to birth defects during the American outbreak 1–3. It has been proposed that mutations unique to the Asian/American-genotype explain, at least in part, the ability of Asian/American ZIKV to cause congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) 4,5. Recent studies identified mutations in ZIKV infecting humans that arose coincident with the outbreak in French Polynesia and were stably maintained during subsequent spread to the Americas 5. Here we show that African ZIKV can infect and harm fetuses and that the S139N mutation that has been associated with the American outbreak is not essential for fetal harm. Our findings, in a vertical transmission mouse model, suggest that ZIKV will remain a threat to pregnant women for the foreseeable future, including in Africa, southeast Asia, and the Americas. Additional research is needed to better understand the risks associated with ZIKV infection during pregnancy, both in areas where the virus is newly endemic and where it has been circulating for decades.

scholarly journals Zika virus impairs growth in human neurospheres and brain organoids

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia P Garcez ◽  
Erick C Loiola ◽  
Rodrigo F Madeiro da Costa ◽  
Luiza Higa ◽  
Pablo Trindade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Brain Cells ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Human Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Human Brain Development

Since the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV), reports of microcephaly have increased dramatically in Brazil; however, causality between the widespread epidemic and malformations in fetal brains has not been confirmed. Here, we examine the effects of ZIKV infection in human neural stem cells growing as neurospheres and cerebral organoids. Using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, we show that ZIKV targets human brain cells, reducing their viability and growth as neurospheres and cerebral organoids. These results suggest that ZIKV abrogates neurogenesis during human brain development.

scholarly journals Autophagy in Zika Virus Infection: A Possible Therapeutic Target to Counteract Viral Replication

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossella Gratton ◽  
Almerinda Agrelli ◽  
Paola Tricarico ◽  
Lucas Brandão ◽  
Sergio Crovella
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mtor Signaling Pathway ◽  
Catabolic Pathway ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Fundamental Process

Zika virus (ZIKV) still constitutes a public health concern, however, no vaccines or therapies are currently approved for treatment. A fundamental process involved in ZIKV infection is autophagy, a cellular catabolic pathway delivering cytoplasmic cargo to the lysosome for degradation—considered as a primordial form of innate immunity against invading microorganisms. ZIKV is thought to inhibit the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway, which causes aberrant activation of autophagy promoting viral replication and propagation. It is therefore appealing to study the role of autophagic molecular effectors during viral infection to identify potential targets for anti-ZIKV therapeutic intervention.

scholarly journals Zika virus is transmitted in neural progenitor cells via cell-to-cell spread and infection is inhibited by the autophagy inducer trehalose

2020 ◽  
pp. JVI.02024-20
Author(s):  
Alex E Clark ◽  
Zhe Zhu ◽  
Florian Krach ◽  
Jeremy N Rich ◽  
Gene W. Yeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Neural Progenitor ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Free Virus ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Infected Cells

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes congenital Zika syndrome and neurological symptoms in some adults. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for ZIKV, and exploration of therapies targeting host processes could avoid viral development of drug resistance. The purpose of our study was to determine if the non-toxic and widely used disaccharide trehalose, which showed antiviral activity against Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in our previous work, could restrict ZIKV infection in clinically relevant neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Trehalose is known to induce autophagy, the degradation and recycling of cellular components. Whether autophagy is proviral or antiviral for ZIKV is controversial and depends on cell type and specific conditions used to activate or inhibit autophagy. We show here that trehalose treatment of NPCs infected with recent ZIKV isolates from Panama and Puerto Rico significantly reduces viral replication and spread. In addition, we demonstrate that ZIKV infection in NPCs spreads primarily cell-to-cell as an expanding infectious center, and NPCs are infected via contact with infected cells far more efficiently than by cell-free virus. Importantly, ZIKV was able to spread in NPCs in the presence of neutralizing antibody.Importance Zika virus causes birth defects and can lead to neurological disease in adults. While infection rates are currently low, ZIKV remains a public health concern with no treatment or vaccine available. Targeting a cellular pathway to inhibit viral replication is a potential treatment strategy that avoids development of antiviral resistance. We demonstrate in this study that the non-toxic autophagy-inducing disaccharide trehalose reduces spread and output of ZIKV in infected neural progenitor cells (NPCs), the major cells infected in the fetus. We show that ZIKV spreads cell-to-cell in NPCs as an infectious center and that NPCs are more permissive to infection by contact with infected cells than by cell-free virus. We find that neutralizing antibody does not prevent the spread of the infection in NPCs. These results are significant in demonstrating anti-ZIKV activity of trehalose and in clarifying the primary means of Zika virus spread in clinically relevant target cells.

scholarly journals Impact of Zika Virus Infection on Human Neural Stem Cell MicroRNA Signatures

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1219
Author(s):  
Denna Tabari ◽  
Catharina Scholl ◽  
Michael Steffens ◽  
Sandra Weickhardt ◽  
Fabian Elgner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Mediate Cell ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Mrna Transcriptome

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus, which can cause brain abnormalities in newborns, including microcephaly. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which post- transcriptionally regulate gene expression. They are involved in various processes including neurological development and host responses to viral infection, but their potential role in ZIKV pathogenesis remains poorly understood. MiRNAs can be incorporated into extracellular vesicles (EVs) and mediate cell-to-cell communication. While it is well known that in viral infections EVs carrying miRNAs can play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis, ZIKV effects on EV-delivered miRNAs and their contribution to ZIKV pathogenesis have not been elucidated. In the present study, we profiled intracellular and EV-derived miRNAs by next generation sequencing and analyzed the host mRNA transcriptome of neural stem cells during infection with ZIKV Uganda and French Polynesia strains. We identified numerous miRNAs, including miR-4792, which were dysregulated at the intracellular level and had altered levels in EVs during ZIKV infection. Integrated analyses of differentially expressed genes and miRNAs showed that ZIKV infection had an impact on processes associated with neurodevelopment and oxidative stress. Our results provide insights into the roles of intracellular and EV-associated host miRNAs in ZIKV pathogenesis.

scholarly journals A tale of two cell-fates: role of the Hippo signaling pathway and transcription factors in early lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 653-664
Author(s):  
Challis Karasek ◽  
Mohamed Ashry ◽  
Chad S Driscoll ◽  
Jason G Knott
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Preimplantation Embryos ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Hippo Signaling Pathway ◽  
The Hippo Pathway

Abstract In mammals, the first cell-fate decision occurs during preimplantation embryo development when the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) lineages are established. The ICM develops into the embryo proper, while the TE lineage forms the placenta. The underlying molecular mechanisms that govern lineage formation involve cell-to-cell interactions, cell polarization, cell signaling and transcriptional regulation. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding regarding the cellular and molecular events that regulate lineage formation in mouse preimplantation embryos with an emphasis on cell polarity and the Hippo signaling pathway. Moreover, we will provide an overview on some of the molecular tools that are used to manipulate the Hippo pathway and study cell-fate decisions in early embryos. Lastly, we will provide exciting future perspectives on transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activity of the Hippo pathway in preimplantation embryos to ensure robust lineage segregation.

Zika Virus Infection in the Elderly: Possible Relationship with Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Gerontology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Savino ◽  
Carolina V. Messias ◽  
Daniella A. Mendes-da-Cruz ◽  
Pamela Passos ◽  
Ana Carolina A.F. Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Guillain Barre Syndrome ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Guillain Barré Syndrome ◽  
Guillain Barré

The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in French Polynesia, in 2013, and in Brazil, in 2015, was correlated with neurological complications, which comprised, among others, congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which includes a group of acute autoimmune neuropathies generally reported after respiratory or gastrointestinal infectious diseases. Despite being relatively rare, the incidence rate of GBS rises with age, which makes GBS more frequent in the elderly, in whom it is also a more severe disease with slower recovery than in younger patients. Different forms of GBS have been described having diagnostic confirmation of a previous infection with the ZIKV virus. Although we do not have enough evidence that elderly people are a particularly susceptible population to developing GBS following ZIKV infection, this is plausible. We should consider this possibility, particularly taking into account that aging subjects are more susceptible to infections. In this context, a deeper understanding of how the immune system in the elderly functions in relation to ZIKV infection is necessary, as well as an understanding of what kind of alterations of the nervous system such an infection triggers in the elderly, beyond GBS. This will be relevant for better therapeutic interventions and for designing vaccine candidates that can be applied in an aging population, particularly those prone to develop ZIKV-induced autoimmunity.

scholarly journals Zika Virus: New Clinical Syndromes and Its Emergence in the Western Hemisphere

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 4864-4875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen M. Lazear ◽  
Michael S. Diamond
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Clinical Complications ◽  
Clinical Syndromes ◽  
Potential Interactions

Zika virus (ZIKV) had remained a relatively obscure flavivirus until a recent series of outbreaks accompanied by unexpectedly severe clinical complications brought this virus into the spotlight as causing an infection of global public health concern. In this review, we discuss the history and epidemiology of ZIKV infection, recent outbreaks in Oceania and the emergence of ZIKV in the Western Hemisphere, newly ascribed complications of ZIKV infection, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly, potential interactions between ZIKV and dengue virus, and the prospects for the development of antiviral agents and vaccines.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document