Abstract
Here, we used a mouse model with defective autophagy to further decipher the role of Beclin1 in the infection and disease of Zika virus (ZIKV)-R103451. Hemizygous (Becn1+/-) and wild-type (Becn1+/+) pregnant mice were transiently immunocompromised using the anti-interferon alpha/beta receptor subunit 1 monoclonal antibody MAR1-5A3. Despite a low mortality rate among the infected dams, 25% of Becn1+/- offspring were smaller in size and had smaller, underdeveloped brains. This phenotype became apparent after 2-to 3-weeks post-birth. Furthermore, the smaller-sized pups showed a decrease in the mRNA expression levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and the expression levels of several microcephaly associated genes, when compared to their typical-sized siblings. Neuronal loss was also noticeable in brain tissues that were removed postmortem. Further analysis with murine mixed glia, derived from ZIKV-infected Becn1+/- and Becn1+/+ pups, showed greater infectivity in glia derived from the Becn1+/- genotype, along with a significant increase in pro-inflammatory molecules. In the present study, we identified a link by which defective autophagy is causally related to increased inflammatory molecules, reduced growth factor, decreased expression of microcephaly-associated genes, and increased neuronal loss. Specifically, we showed that a reduced expression of Beclin1 aggravated the consequences of ZIKV infection on brain development and qualifies Becn1 as a susceptibility gene of ZIKV congenital syndrome.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 608 |
Journal | Viruses |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2020 |
Keywords
- Autophagy-defective mouse-model
- Beclin1
- Congenital syndrome
- Growth factor
- Inflammatory molecules
- Microcephaly
- Zika virus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology