Maternal Immune Response to ZIKV Triggers High-Inflammatory Profile in Congenital Zika Syndrome
Eder M. S. Fialho,
Emanoel M. Veras,
Caroline M. de Jesus,
Ricardo Khouri,
Patrícia S. Sousa,
Marizelia R. C. Ribeiro,
Luciana C. Costa,
Líllian N. Gomes,
Flávia R. F. Nascimento,
Antônio A. M. Silva,
Paulo V. Soeiro-Pereira
Affiliations
Eder M. S. Fialho
Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Emanoel M. Veras
Medical School, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Caroline M. de Jesus
Health and Technology Graduate Program, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Ricardo Khouri
Gonçalo Moniz Research Institute, FIOCRUZ-Bahia, Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil
Patrícia S. Sousa
Reference Center on Neurodevelopment, Assistance and Rehabilitation of Children/NINAR–State Department of Health of the State of Maranhão, São Luís 65077-357, MA, Brazil
Marizelia R. C. Ribeiro
Department of Medicine III, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65020-240, MA, Brazil
Luciana C. Costa
Department of Public Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65020-060, MA, Brazil
Líllian N. Gomes
Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
Flávia R. F. Nascimento
Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Antônio A. M. Silva
Department of Public Health, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65020-060, MA, Brazil
Paulo V. Soeiro-Pereira
Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
The immunological mechanisms involved in the development of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) have yet to be fully clarified. This study aims to assess the immuno-inflammatory profile of mothers and their children who have been diagnosed with CZS. Blood samples, which were confirmed clinically using the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), were collected from children with CZS and their mothers (CZS+ group). Samples were also collected from children who did not develop CZS and had a negative PRNT result and from their mothers (CZS- group). The data demonstrated a correlation between the leukocyte profile of CZS+ children and their mothers, more evident in monocytes. Monocytes from mothers of CZS+ children showed low expression of HLA and elevated hydrogen peroxide production. CZS+ children presented standard HLA expression and a higher hydrogen peroxide concentration than CZS- children. Monocyte superoxide dismutase activity remained functional. Moreover, when assessing the monocyte polarization, it was observed that there was no difference in nitrite concentrations; however, there was a decrease in arginase activity in CZS+ children. These data suggest that ZIKV infection induces a maternal immuno-inflammatory background related to the child’s inflammatory response after birth, possibly affecting the development and progression of congenital Zika syndrome.
