scholarly journals Integrated MicroRNA and mRNA Profiling in Zika Virus-Infected Neurons

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Azouz ◽  
Komal Arora ◽  
Keeton Krause ◽  
Vivek Nerurkar ◽  
Mukesh Kumar

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have caused a wide spectrum of neurological diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, myelitis, meningoencephalitis, and congenital microcephaly. No effective therapies currently exist for treating patients infected with ZIKV. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small RNAs involved in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular and physiological processes. In this study, we analyzed digital miRNA and mRNA profiles in ZIKV-infected primary mouse neurons using the nCounter technology. A total of 599 miRNAs and 770 mRNAs were examined. We demonstrate that ZIKV infection causes global downregulation of miRNAs with only few upregulated miRNAs. ZIKV-modulated miRNAs including miR-155, miR-203, miR-29a, and miR-124-3p are known to play critical role in flavivirus infection, anti-viral immunity and brain injury. ZIKV infection also results in downregulation of miRNA processing enzymes. In contrast, ZIKV infection induces dramatic upregulation of anti-viral, inflammatory and apoptotic genes. Furthermore, our data demonstrate an inverse correlation between ZIKV-modulated miRNAs and target host mRNAs induced by ZIKV. Biofunctional analysis revealed that ZIKV-modulated miRNAs and mRNAs regulate the pathways related to neurological development and neuroinflammatory responses. Functional studies targeting specific miRNA are warranted to develop therapeutics for the management of ZIKV neurological disease.

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1807
Author(s):  
Eri Nakayama ◽  
Yasuhiro Kawai ◽  
Satoshi Taniguchi ◽  
Jessamine E. Hazlewood ◽  
Ken-ichi Shibasaki ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy causes a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities and postnatal developmental sequelae such as fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), microcephaly, or motor and neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we investigated whether a mouse pregnancy model recapitulated a wide range of symptoms after congenital ZIKV infection, and whether the embryonic age of congenital infection changed the fetal or postnatal outcomes. Infection with ZIKV strain PRVABC59 from embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) to E8.5, corresponding to the mid-first trimester in humans, caused fetal death, fetal resorption, or severe IUGR, whereas infection from E9.5 to E14.5, corresponding to the late-first to second trimester in humans, caused stillbirth, neonatal death, microcephaly, and postnatal growth deficiency. Furthermore, 4-week-old offspring born to dams infected at E12.5 showed abnormalities in neuropsychiatric state, motor behavior, autonomic function, or reflex and sensory function. Thus, our model recapitulated the multiple symptoms seen in human cases, and the embryonic age of congenital infection was one of the determinant factors of offspring outcomes in mice. Furthermore, maternal neutralizing antibodies protected the offspring from neonatal death after congenital infection at E9.5, suggesting that neonatal death in our model could serve as criteria for screening of vaccine candidates.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livia Rosa-Fernandes ◽  
Raquel Hora Barbosa ◽  
Maria Luiza B. dos Santos ◽  
Claudia B. Angeli ◽  
Thiago P. Silva ◽  
...  

AbstractIMPORTANCEOcular complications in infants with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) have been reported. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying of eye dysfunctions are presently unknown.OBJECTIVEA method (termed Cellular Imprinting Proteomics, CImP) for the identification and quantification of the ocular surface proteome using a minimally invasive membrane filter device is described. Moreover, The CImP method was applied to profile the molecular alterations in the eyes of infants exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during gestation.DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIMPANTSThe CImP method was applied to a cohort divided into three conditions: 1) Ctrl (infants with no infectious diseases, n=5). 2) Zikv (infants exposed to ZIKV gestation, with no microcephaly, n=5). 3) ZikvCZS(infants exposed to ZIKV, with microcephaly, n=3). All conditions were age and sex-matched. An improved impression cytology method was used to capture the outermost ocular surface cells. The number of impression cytology membrane collected was: Ctrl (12), Zikv (14) and ZikvCZS(8). Proteins were extracted and analysed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology followed by statistical analysis. Parallel reaction monitoring was performed to validate the expression of specific protein markers.RESULTSUsing the CImP method, 2209 proteins were identified on the membrane-captured conjunctiva epithelial cells. Modulation of neutrophil degranulation, cell death, ocular and neurodevelopment pathways are reported in infants with CZS compared to matched controls. Moreover, the molecular pattern of ocular surface cells retrieved from infants infected during the gestation but with no CZS was different from matched controls.CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVESMolecular alterations in the ocular cell surface associated to ZIKV infection with and without CZS complications are reported for the first time. We predict that this method will be introduced successfully in the study of several neurological diseases with the aim to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 673-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Talero-Gutiérrez ◽  
A. Rivera-Molina ◽  
C. Pérez-Pavajeau ◽  
I. Ossa-Ospina ◽  
C. Santos-García ◽  
...  

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) infection is an emergent worldwide public health problem. Historically, 84 countries have reported vector-borne ZIKV transmission, 61 of which report on-going transmission. It is a Flavivirus transmitted through arthropods belonging to the Aedes genus. Since 2015, ZIKV infections have increased dramatically; with 1.3 million people infected during 2015 in Brazil alone. This paper's objective is to highlight the conjectural epidemiological points of the virus’ dissemination. The digital archives Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched for papers that assessed aspects of ZIKV transmission and epidemiology. The first isolation occurred in Uganda in 1947. Since then, important outbreaks were documented globally. Consequently, an emergent public health problem arose from a rapidly increasing incidence and its association with the development of neurological diseases such as microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome. Key factors in the successful containment of outbreaks include surveillance of mosquitos in the neighbourhood, an early mosquito control treatment, an assertive information campaign, and the involvement of the local population and healthcare workers. As such, while ZIKV seems to be spreading globally in a similar manner to other arboviruses, such as Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, it can also be rapidly contained due to the pre-existing availability of necessary resources and regulatory tools as control measures. This review aims to provide a description of those characteristics of ZIKV infection that may be useful in the construction of effective outbreak control strategies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans C. Leier ◽  
Jules B. Weinstein ◽  
Jennifer E. Kyle ◽  
Joon-Yong Lee ◽  
Lisa M. Bramer ◽  
...  

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV), an arbovirus of global concern, remodels intracellular membranes to form replication sites. How ZIKV dysregulates lipid networks to allow this, and consequences for disease, is poorly understood. Here, we performed comprehensive lipidomics to create a lipid network map during ZIKV infection. We found that ZIKV significantly alters host lipid composition, with the most striking changes seen within subclasses of sphingolipids. Ectopic expression of ZIKV NS4B protein resulted in similar changes, demonstrating a role for NS4B in modulating sphingolipid pathways. Disruption of sphingolipid biosynthesis in various cell types, including human neural progenitor cells, blocked ZIKV infection. Additionally, the sphingolipid ceramide redistributes to ZIKV replication sites and increasing ceramide levels by multiple pathways sensitizes cells to ZIKV infection. Thus, we identify a sphingolipid metabolic network with a critical role in ZIKV replication and show that ceramide flux is a key mediator of ZIKV infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 3014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco De Martino ◽  
Francesco Esposito ◽  
Simona Pellecchia ◽  
Ricardo Cortez Cardoso Penha ◽  
Gerardo Botti ◽  
...  

Background: Recent studies have underlined HMGA protein’s key role in the onset of testicular germ cell tumors, where HMGA1 is differently expressed with respect to the state of differentiation, suggesting its fine regulation as master regulator in testicular tumorigenesis. Several studies have highlighted that the HMGA1 transcript is strictly regulated by a set of inhibitory microRNAs. Thus, the aim of this study is to test whether HMGA1 overexpression in human seminomas may be induced by the deregulation of miR-26a and Let-7a—two HMGA1-targeting microRNAs. Methods: HMGA1 mRNA and Let-7a and miR-26a levels were measured in a seminoma dataset available in the Cancer Genome Atlas database and confirmed in a subset of seminomas by qRT-PCR and western blot. A TCam-2 seminoma cell line was then transfected with Let-7a and miR-26a and tested for proliferation and motility abilities. Results: an inverse correlation was found between the expression of miR-26a and Let-7a and HMGA1 expression levels in seminomas samples, suggesting a critical role of these microRNAs in HMGA1 levels regulation. Accordingly, functional studies showed that miR-26a and Let-7a inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities of the human seminoma derived cell line TCam-2. Conclusions: these data strongly support that the upregulation of HMGA1 levels occurring in seminoma is—at least in part—due to the downregulation of HMGA1-targeting microRNAs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Xu ◽  
Min Cheng ◽  
Xiaojing Chi ◽  
Xiuying Liu ◽  
Jia Zhou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The Zika virus (ZIKV) life cycle involves multiple steps and requires interactions with host factors. However, the inability to systematically identify host regulatory factors for ZIKV has hampered antiviral development and our understanding of pathogenicity. Here, using a bioactive compound library with 2,659 small molecules, we applied a high-throughput and imaging-based screen to identify host factors that modulate ZIKV infection. The screen yielded hundreds of hits that markedly inhibited or potentiated ZIKV infection in SNB-19 glioblastoma cells. Among the hits, URMC-099, a mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) inhibitor, significantly facilitated ZIKV replication in both SNB-19 cells and the neonatal mouse brain. Using gene silencing and overexpression, we further confirmed that MLK3 was a host restriction factor against ZIKV. Mechanistically, MLK3 negatively regulated ZIKV replication through induction of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) but did not modulate host interferon-related pathways. Importantly, ZIKV activated the MLK3/MKK7/Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) pathway in both SNB-19 cells and neonatal mouse brain. Together, these findings reveal a critical role for MLK3 in regulating ZIKV infection and facilitate the development of anti-ZIKV therapeutics by providing a number of screening hits. IMPORTANCE Zika fever, an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), normally results in mild symptoms. Severe infection can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and birth defects, including microcephaly, in newborns. Although ZIKV was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys, a widespread epidemic of ZIKV infection in South and Central America in 2015 and 2016 raised major concerns. To date, there is no vaccine or specific medicine for ZIKV. The significance of our research is the systematic discovery of small molecule candidates that modulate ZIKV infection, which will allow the development of antiviral therapeutics. In addition, we identified MLK3, a key mediator of host signaling pathways that can be activated during ZIKV infection and limits virus replication by inducing multiple inflammatory cytokines. These findings broaden our understanding of ZIKV pathogenesis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 481-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Dudley ◽  
Matthew T. Aliota ◽  
Emma L. Mohr ◽  
Christina M. Newman ◽  
Thaddeus G. Golos ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) and nonhuman primates have been inextricably linked since the virus was first discovered in a sentinel rhesus macaque in Uganda in 1947. Soon after ZIKV was epidemiologically associated with birth defects in Brazil late in 2015, researchers capitalized on the fact that rhesus macaques are commonly used to model viral immunity and pathogenesis, quickly establishing macaque models for ZIKV infection. Within months, the susceptibility of pregnant macaques to experimental ZIKV challenge and ZIKV-associated abnormalities in fetuses was confirmed. This review discusses key unanswered questions in ZIKV immunity and in the pathogenesis of thecongenital Zika virus syndrome. We focus on those questions that can be best addressed in pregnant nonhuman primates and lessons learned from developing macaque models for ZIKV amid an active epidemic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Pan ◽  
Zhilin Peng ◽  
Likai Tan ◽  
Fan Zou ◽  
Nan Zhou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV) is genetically and biologically related to other Flaviviridae family members and has disseminated to many countries. It is associated with severe consequences, including the abnormal development of the neural system in fetuses and neurological diseases in adults. Therefore, the development of anti-ZIKV drugs is of paramount importance. Screening of generic drugs revealed that several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, and lornoxicam, potently inhibited the entry of Zika virus Env/HIV-1-pseudotyped viruses. They also significantly inhibited the replication of wild-type ZIKV both in cell lines and in primary human fetal endothelial cells. Interestingly, the NSAIDs exerted this inhibitory effect by potently reducing the expression of AXL, the entry cofactor of ZIKV. Further studies showed that the NSAIDs downregulated the prostaglandin E2/prostaglandin E receptor 2 (EP2)/cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway and reduced PKA-dependent CDC37 phosphorylation and the interaction between CDC37 and HSP90, which subsequently facilitated CHIP/ubiquitination/proteasome-mediated AXL degradation. Taken together, our results highlight a new mechanism of action of antiviral agents which may assist in designing a convenient strategy for treating ZIKV-infected patients. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, which causes congenital malformations, including microcephaly and other neurological disorders, has attracted global attention. We observed that several NSAIDs significantly inhibited ZIKV infection. Based on our observations, we propose a novel mechanism of action of antiviral compounds which involves the blockade of virus entry via degradation of the entry cofactor. Furthermore, NSAIDs can be practically used for preventing ZIKV infection in pregnant women, as certain NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen, are considered clinically safe.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Corrêa ◽  
Igor de Oliveira Santos ◽  
Heloísa Antoniella Braz-de-Melo ◽  
Lívia Pimentel de Sant’Ana ◽  
Raquel das Neves Almeida ◽  
...  

AbstractGut microbiota composition can modulate neuroendocrine function, inflammation, and cellular and immunological responses against different pathogens, including viruses. Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect adult immunocompetent individuals and trigger brain damage and antiviral responses. However, it is not known whether ZIKV infection could impact the gut microbiome from adult immunocompetent mice. Here, we investigated modifications induced by ZIKV infection in the gut microbiome of immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice. Adult C57BL/6J mice were infected with ZIKV and the gut microbiota composition was analyzed by next-generation sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region present in the bacterial 16S rDNA gene. Our data showed that ZIKV infection triggered a significant decrease in the bacteria belonging to Actinobacteria and Firmicutes phyla, and increased Deferribacteres and Spirochaetes phyla components compared to uninfected mice. Interestingly, ZIKV infection triggered a significant increase in the abundance of bacteria from the Spirochaetaceae family in the gut microbiota. Lastly, we demonstrated that modulation of microbiota induced by ZIKV infection may lead to intestinal epithelium damage and intense leukocyte recruitment to the intestinal mucosa. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ZIKV infection can impact the gut microbiota composition and colon tissue homeostasis in adult immunocompetent mice.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Julia A. Gomes ◽  
Eduarda Sgarioni ◽  
Juliano A. Boquett ◽  
Ana Cláudia P. Terças-Trettel ◽  
Juliana H. da Silva ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in individuals exposed prenatally. Here, we investigated polymorphisms in VEGFA, PTGS2, NOS3, TNF, and NOS2 genes as risk factors to CZS. Forty children with CZS and forty-eight children who were in utero exposed to ZIKV infection, but born without congenital anomalies, were evaluated. Children with CZS were predominantly infected by ZIKV in the first trimester (p < 0.001) and had mothers with lower educational level (p < 0.001) and family income (p < 0.001). We found higher risk of CZS due the allele rs2297518[A] of NOS2 (OR = 2.28, CI 95% 1.17–4.50, p = 0.015). T allele and TT/CT genotypes of the TNF rs1799724 and haplotypes associated with higher expression of TNF were more prevalent in children with CZS and severe microcephaly (p = 0.029, p = 0.041 and p = 0.030, respectively). Our findings showed higher risk of CZS due ZIKV infection in the first trimester and suggested that polymorphisms in NOS2 and TNF genes affect the risk of CZS and severe microcephaly.


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