Zika Virus Infection of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Differential Expression of Proteins Linked to Several

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Zika Virus Infection of Cultured Human Fetal Brain Neural Stem Cells for Immunocytochemical Analysis
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Zika Virus Infection of Cultured Human Fetal Brain Neural Stem Cells for Immunocytochemical Analysis

Published on: February 5, 2018

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Walter O Beys-da-Silva1,2, Rafael L Rosa3,4, Lucélia Santi5,3

  • 1Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. walter.beys@ufrgs.br.

Molecular Neurobiology
|November 1, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in human cells alters metabolism and key cellular processes. This study reveals potential links between ZIKV and neurodegenerative diseases beyond microcephaly.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil has been linked to microcephaly.
  • The full spectrum of ZIKV-induced cellular damage and associated neurological complications remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the proteomic changes in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) upon infection with a Brazilian ZIKV strain.
  • To identify potential molecular mechanisms and associated neuropathologies linked to ZIKV infection.

Main Methods:

  • Differential proteome analysis using shotgun proteomics (MudPIT).
  • Analysis of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) infected with ZIKV.

Main Results:

  • ZIKV infection reprogrammed nucleotide metabolism and energy production pathways (glycolysis).
  • ZIKV potentially inhibited autophagy, neurogenesis, and immune responses via signaling pathway downregulation.
  • Altered expression of proteins associated with Alzheimer's, autism, ALS, and Parkinson's diseases was observed in ZIKV-infected hMSC.

Conclusions:

  • ZIKV infection significantly impacts cellular metabolism and function in hMSC.
  • This study presents novel evidence linking ZIKV infection to proteins implicated in various neurodegenerative and developmental disorders, extending beyond microcephaly.
  • Findings suggest ZIKV may have broader neurological implications requiring further investigation.
Keywords:
Brain diseasesHuman mesenchymal stem cellsMicrocephalyProteomeZika virus

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