Determination of system level alterations in host transcriptome due to Zika virus (ZIKV) Infection in retinal pigment epithelium

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 25;8(1):11209. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29329-2.

Abstract

Previously, we reported that Zika virus (ZIKV) causes ocular complications such as chorioretinal atrophy, by infecting cells lining the blood-retinal barrier, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). To understand the molecular basis of ZIKV-induced retinal pathology, we performed a meta-analysis of transcriptome profiles of ZIKV-infected human primary RPE and other cell types infected with either ZIKV or other related flaviviruses (Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, and Dengue). This led to identification of a unique ZIKV infection signature comprising 43 genes (35 upregulated and 8 downregulated). The major biological processes perturbed include SH3/SH2 adaptor activity, lipid and ceramide metabolism, and embryonic organ development. Further, a comparative analysis of some differentially regulated genes (ABCG1, SH2B3, SIX4, and TNFSF13B) revealed that ZIKV induced their expression relatively more than dengue virus did in RPE. Importantly, the pharmacological inhibition of ABCG1, a membrane transporter of cholesterol, resulted in reduced ZIKV infectivity. Interestingly, the ZIKV infection signature revealed the downregulation of ALDH5A1 and CHML, genes implicated in neurological (cognitive impairment, expressive language deficit, and mild ataxia) and ophthalmic (choroideremia) disorders, respectively. Collectively, our study revealed that ZIKV induces differential gene expression in RPE cells, and the identified genes/pathways (e.g., ABCG1) could potentially contribute to ZIKV-associated ocular pathologies.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1 / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / genetics
  • Dengue / genetics
  • Dengue / pathology
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / pathogenicity
  • Flavivirus Infections / genetics
  • Flavivirus Infections / pathology
  • Flavivirus Infections / virology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / metabolism*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / virology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Transcriptome / genetics*
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • West Nile Fever / genetics
  • West Nile Fever / pathology
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / pathogenicity
  • Zika Virus / genetics*
  • Zika Virus / pathogenicity
  • Zika Virus Infection / genetics*
  • Zika Virus Infection / pathology
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

Substances

  • ABCG1 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins
  • SH2B3 protein, human
  • SIX4 protein, human
  • Trans-Activators