scholarly journals Placental Autophagy and Viral Replication Co-localize in Human and Non-human Primate Placentae Following Zika Virus Infection: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. McKinney ◽  
Maxim D. Seferovic ◽  
Angela M. Major ◽  
Melissa A. Suter ◽  
Suzette D. Tardif ◽  
...  

Background: Multiple studies have shown both induction and inhibition of autophagy during Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. While some have proposed mechanisms by which autophagic dysregulation might facilitate ZIKV vertical transmission, there is a lack of in situ data in human and non-human primate models. This is an especially pertinent question as autophagy-inhibitors, such as hydroxychloroquine, have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents aimed at preventing vertical transmission of ZIKV and other RNA viruses.Objectives: Given the paucity of pre-clinical data in support of either autophagic enhancement or inhibition of placental ZIKV viral infection, we sought to assess cellular, spatial, and temporal associations between placental ZIKV infection and measures of autophagy in human primary cell culture and congenital infection cases, as well as an experimental non-human primate (marmoset, Callithrix jacchus) model.Study Design: Primary trophoblast cells were isolated from human placentae (n = 10) and infected in vitro with ZIKV. Autophagy-associated gene expression (ULK-1, BECN1, ATG5, ATG7, ATG12, ATG16L1, MAP1LC3A, MAP1LC3B, p62/SQSTM1) was then determined by TaqMan qPCR to determine fold-change with ZIKV-infection. In in vivo validation experiments, autophagy genes LC3B and p62/SQSTM1 were probed using in situ hybridization (ISH) in the placentae of human Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) cases (n = 3) and ZIKV-infected marmoset placenta (n = 1) and fetal tissue (n = 1). Infected and uninfected villi were compared for mean density and co-localization of autophagic protein markers.Results: Studies of primary cultured human trophoblasts revealed decreased expression of autophagy genes ATG5 and p62/SQSTM1 in ZIKV-infected trophoblasts [ATG5 fold change (±SD) 0.734-fold (±0.722), p = 0.036; p62/SQSTM1 0.661-fold (±0.666), p = 0.029]. Histologic examination by ISH and immunohistochemistry confirmed spatial association of autophagy and ZIKV infection in human congenital infection cases, as well as marmoset placental and fetal tissue samples. When quantified by densitometric data, autophagic protein LC3B, and p62/SQSTM1 expression in marmoset placenta were significantly decreased in in situ ZIKV-infected villi compared to less-infected areas [LC3B mean 0.951 (95% CI, 0.930–0.971), p = 0.018; p62/SQSTM1 mean 0.863 (95% CI, 0.810–0.916), p = 0.024].Conclusion: In the current study, we observed that in the non-transformed human and non-human primate placenta, disruption (specifically down-regulation) of autophagy accompanies later ZIKV replication in vitro, in vivo, and in situ. The findings collectively suggest that dysregulated autophagy spatially and temporally accompanies placental ZIKV replication, providing the first in situ evidence in relevant primate pre-clinical and clinical models for the importance of timing of human therapeutic strategies aimed at agonizing/antagonizing autophagy. These studies have likely further implications for other congenitally transmitted viruses, particularly the RNA viruses, given the ubiquitous nature of autophagic disruption and dysregulation in host responses to viral infection during pregnancy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuyi Huang ◽  
Yujie Wang ◽  
Shuhui Meng ◽  
Zhuohang Chen ◽  
Haifan Kong ◽  
...  

Recent studies have indicated that the Zika virus (ZIKV) has a significant impact on the fetal brain, and autophagy is contributing to host immune response and defense against virus infection. Here, we demonstrate that ZIKV infection triggered increased LC3 punctuation in mouse monocyte-macrophage cell line (RAW264.7), mouse microglial cell line (BV2), and hindbrain tissues, proving the occurrence of autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, manual intervention of autophagy, like deficiency inhibited by 3-MA, can reduce viral clearance in RAW264.7 cells upon ZIKV infection. Besides, specific siRNA strategy confirmed that autophagy can be activated through Atg7-Atg5 and type I IFN signaling pathway upon ZIKV infection, while knocking down of Atg7 and Atg5 effectively decreased the ZIKV clearance in phagocytes. Furthermore, we analyzed that type I IFN signaling could contribute to autophagic clearance of invaded ZIKV in phagocytes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that ZIKV-induced autophagy is favorable to activate host immunity, particularly through type I IFN signaling, which participates in host protection and defense against ZIKV infection.


mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian V. Costa ◽  
Juliana L. Del Sarto ◽  
Rebeca F. Rocha ◽  
Flavia R. Silva ◽  
Juliana G. Doria ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a global health emergency that causes significant neurodegeneration. Neurodegenerative processes may be exacerbated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent neuronal excitoxicity. Here, we have exploited the hypothesis that ZIKV-induced neurodegeneration can be rescued by blocking NMDA overstimulation with memantine. Our results show that ZIKV actively replicates in primary neurons and that virus replication is directly associated with massive neuronal cell death. Interestingly, treatment with memantine or other NMDAR blockers, including dizocilpine (MK-801), agmatine sulfate, or ifenprodil, prevents neuronal death without interfering with the ability of ZIKV to replicate in these cells. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrate that therapeutic memantine treatment prevents the increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by infection and massively reduces neurodegeneration and microgliosis in the brain of infected mice. Our results indicate that the blockade of NMDARs by memantine provides potent neuroprotective effects against ZIKV-induced neuronal damage, suggesting it could be a viable treatment for patients at risk for ZIKV infection-induced neurodegeneration. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a global health emergency associated with serious neurological complications, including microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Infection of experimental animals with ZIKV causes significant neuronal damage and microgliosis. Treatment with drugs that block NMDARs prevented neuronal damage both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that overactivation of NMDARs contributes significantly to the neuronal damage induced by ZIKV infection, and this is amenable to inhibition by drug treatment. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a global health emergency associated with serious neurological complications, including microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Infection of experimental animals with ZIKV causes significant neuronal damage and microgliosis. Treatment with drugs that block NMDARs prevented neuronal damage both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that overactivation of NMDARs contributes significantly to the neuronal damage induced by ZIKV infection, and this is amenable to inhibition by drug treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Lee ◽  
Ok Shin

Emerging mosquito-transmitted RNA viruses, such as Zika virus (ZIKV) and Chikungunya represent human pathogens of an immense global health problem. In particular, ZIKV has emerged explosively since 2007 to cause a series of epidemics in the South Pacific and most recently in the Americas. Although typical ZIKV infections are asymptomatic, ZIKV infection during pregnancy is increasingly associated with microcephaly and other fetal developmental abnormalities. In the last few years, genomic and molecular investigations have established a remarkable progress on the pathogenic mechanisms of ZIKV infection using in vitro and in vivo models. Here, we highlight recent advances in ZIKV-host cell interaction studies, including cellular targets of ZIKV, ZIKV-mediated cell death mechanisms, host cell restriction factors that limit ZIKV replication, and immune evasion mechanisms utilized by ZIKV. Understanding of the mechanisms of ZIKV–host interaction at the cellular level will contribute crucial insights into the development of ZIKV therapeutics and vaccines.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (426) ◽  
pp. eaao7090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek J. Platt ◽  
Amber M. Smith ◽  
Nitin Arora ◽  
Michael S. Diamond ◽  
Carolyn B. Coyne ◽  
...  

Although Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnant women can cause placental damage, intrauterine growth restriction, microcephaly, and fetal demise, these disease manifestations only became apparent in the context of a large epidemic in the Americas. We hypothesized that ZIKV is not unique among arboviruses in its ability to cause congenital infection. To evaluate this, we tested the capacity of four emerging arboviruses [West Nile virus (WNV), Powassan virus (POWV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Mayaro virus (MAYV)] from related (flavivirus) and unrelated (alphavirus) genera to infect the placenta and fetus in immunocompetent, wild-type mice. Although all four viruses caused placental infection, only infection with the neurotropic flaviviruses (WNV and POWV) resulted in fetal demise. WNV and POWV also replicated efficiently in second-trimester human maternal (decidua) and fetal (chorionic villi and fetal membrane) explants, whereas CHIKV and MAYV replicated less efficiently. In mice, RNA in situ hybridization and histopathological analysis revealed that WNV infected the placenta and fetal central nervous system, causing injury to the developing brain. In comparison, CHIKV and MAYV did not cause substantive placental or fetal damage despite evidence of vertical transmission. On the basis of the susceptibility of human maternal and fetal tissue explants and pathogenesis experiments in immunocompetent mice, other emerging neurotropic flaviviruses may share with ZIKV the capacity for transplacental transmission, as well as subsequent infection and injury to the developing fetus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-533
Author(s):  
Gamil Sayed Gamil Zeedan ◽  
Abeer Mostafa Abdalhamed

The goal of this review was to highlight some plant species that have significant antiviral activity against DNA and RNA viruses in vitro and in vivo although more research is needed to address safety issues, drug interactions, and the possibility of using them in combination with other natural products. Viral infection plays an important role in human and animal diseases. Although there have been advances in immunization and antiviral drugs, there is still a lack of protective vaccines and effective antiviral drugs in human and veterinary medicine. The lack of effective antivirals necessitates the search for new effective antiviral compounds. Plants are naturally gifted at synthesizing antiviral compounds. They are rich sources of phytochemicals with different biological activities, including antiviral activities as a result of advanced analytical chemistry, standard virus assays, and development of standardization and extraction methods. Plant extracts have a wide variety of active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, sulphides, polyphenolics, coumarins, saponins, furyl compounds, alkaloids, polyines, thiophenes, proteins, and peptides. Moreover, certain volatile oils have indicated a high level of antiviral activity. Replication, assembly, and release, as well as targeting virus host-specific interactions capable of inhibiting several viruses, could help the development of broad-spectrum antivirals for the prevention and control of viral pathogens. The in vitro antiviral activities of Erythroxylum deciduum, Lacistema hasslerianum (chodat), Xylopia aromatica, Heteropteris aphrodisiaca, Acacia nilotica (gum arabic tree), Lippia graveolens (Guettarda angelica (Velvetseed), Prunus myrtifolia, and Symphyopappus plant extracts can inhibite viral replication, and interfer with the early stages of viral adsorption of DNA viruses. However, Boesenbergia rotunda plant extracts have inhibited RNA viruses. A potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor with B. rotunda extract and panduratin A after viral infection drastically suppresses SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Vero E6 cells.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Bernardi Aggio ◽  
Bárbara Nery Porto ◽  
Claudia Nunes Duarte dos Santos ◽  
Ana Luiza Pamplona Mosimann ◽  
Pryscilla Fanini Wowk

Zika virus (ZIKV) emergence highlighted the need for a deeper understanding on virus-host interaction to pave the development of antiviral therapies. The present work aimed to address the response of neutrophils during ZIKV infection. Neutrophils are an important effector cell in innate immunity involved in the host response to neurotropic arboviruses. Our results indicate that human neutrophils were not permissive to Asian or African ZIKV strains replication. Indeed, after stimulation with ZIKV, neutrophils were not primed against the virus as evaluated by the absence of CD11b modulation, secretion of inflammatory cytokines and granule content, production of reactive oxygen species and neutrophil extracellular traps formation. Overall, neutrophils did not affect ZIKV infectivity. Moreover, ZIKV infection of primary innate immune cells in vitro did not trigger neutrophil migration. However, neutrophil co-cultured with ZIKV susceptible cells (A549) resulted in lower frequencies of infection on A549 cells by cell-to-cell contact. In vivo, neutrophil depletion from immunocompetent mice did not affect ZIKV spreading to the draining lymph nodes. The data suggest human neutrophils do not play a per se antiviral role against ZIKV, but these cells might participate in an infected environment shaping the ZIKV infection in other target cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Mirakhori ◽  
Cheng-Feng Qin ◽  
Zhiheng Xu

SummaryThe generation of in vitro model of human peripheral myelin development and associated disease from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has been a challenge so far. In addition, the underlying mechanism for ZIKA virus (ZIKV) infection incurred Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) remains unexplored due to the lack of a suitable model. Here, we report the de novo generation of a human peripheral myelination model with competent Schwann cells (SCs). Those human SCs generated from hPSCs via compound screening were capable of forming compact myelin both in vitro and in vivo. We found ZIKV infection caused GBS-like events in vitro including myelin sheath degeneration, as well as dysregulated transcriptional profile including the activated cell death pathways and cytokine production. These effects could be partially reversed by several pharmacological inhibitors. Our model therefore provides a new and robust tool for studying the pathogenic mechanisms and developing of therapeutic strategies for related neuropathies.


Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle O’Donnell ◽  
Bernadette Meberg ◽  
James Schiltz ◽  
Matthew Nilles ◽  
David Bradley

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a newly emerged pathogen in the Western hemisphere. It was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in 2016. There have been 223,477 confirmed cases, including 3720 congenital syndrome cases since 2015. ZIKV infection symptoms range from asymptomatic to Gullain–Barré syndrome and extensive neuropathology in infected fetuses. Passive and active vaccines have been unsuccessful in the protection from or the treatment of flaviviral infections due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). ADE causes an increased viral load due to an increased monocyte opsonization by non-neutralizing, low-avidity antibodies from a previous dengue virus (DENV) infection or from a previous exposure to ZIKV. We have previously demonstrated that polyclonal avian IgY generated against whole-killed DENV-2 ameliorates DENV infection in mice while not inducing ADE. This is likely due to the inability of the Fc portion of IgY to bind to mammalian Fc receptors. We have shown here that ZIKV oligoclonal IgY is able to neutralize the virus in vitro and in IFNAR−/− mice. The concentration of ZIKV-specific IgY yielding 50% neutralization (NT50) was 25 µg/mL. The exposure of the ZIKV, prior to culture with ZIKV-specific IgY or 4G2 flavivirus-enveloped IgG, demonstrated that the ZIKV-specific IgY does not induce ADE. ZIKV IgY was protective in vivo when administered following a lethal ZIKV challenge in 3-week-old IFNAR−/− mice. We propose polyclonal ZIKV-specific IgY may provide a viable passive immunotherapy for a ZIKV infection without inducing ADE.


Author(s):  
D. Reis ◽  
B. Vian ◽  
J. C. Roland

Wall morphogenesis in higher plants is a problem still open to controversy. Until now the possibility of a transmembrane control and the involvement of microtubules were mostly envisaged. Self-assembly processes have been observed in the case of walls of Chlamydomonas and bacteria. Spontaneous gelling interactions between xanthan and galactomannan from Ceratonia have been analyzed very recently. The present work provides indications that some processes of spontaneous aggregation could occur in higher plants during the formation and expansion of cell wall.Observations were performed on hypocotyl of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) for which growth characteristics and wall composition have been previously defined.In situ, the walls of actively growing cells (primary walls) show an ordered three-dimensional organization (fig. 1). The wall is typically polylamellate with multifibrillar layers alternately transverse and longitudinal. Between these layers intermediate strata exist in which the orientation of microfibrils progressively rotates. Thus a progressive change in the morphogenetic activity occurs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhao Zhou ◽  
Teng Zhang ◽  
Jianglong Yan ◽  
QiYao Li ◽  
Panpan Xiong ◽  
...  

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