MicroRNA and mRNA Dysregulation in Astrocytes Infected with Zika Virus
Robert A. Kozak,
Anna Majer,
Mia J. Biondi,
Sarah J. Medina,
Lee W. Goneau,
Babu V. Sajesh,
Jessy A. Slota,
Vanessa Zubach,
Alberto Severini,
David Safronetz,
Shannon L. Hiebert,
Daniel R. Beniac,
Timothy F. Booth,
Stephanie A. Booth,
Gary P. Kobinger
Affiliations
Robert A. Kozak
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
Anna Majer
Molecular Patho Biology, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Mia J. Biondi
Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada; Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada, <email>[email protected]</email>
Sarah J. Medina
Molecular Patho Biology, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Lee W. Goneau
Medical Microbiology, Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
Babu V. Sajesh
Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
Jessy A. Slota
Molecular Patho Biology, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Vanessa Zubach
Viral Exanthemata and STD, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Alberto Severini
Viral Exanthemata and STD, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
David Safronetz
Viral Zoonoses, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Shannon L. Hiebert
Viral Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Daniel R. Beniac
Viral Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Timothy F. Booth
Viral Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Stephanie A. Booth
Molecular Patho Biology, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
Gary P. Kobinger
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic is an ongoing public health concern. ZIKV is a flavivirus reported to be associated with microcephaly, and recent work in animal models demonstrates the ability of the virus to cross the placenta and affect fetal brain development. Recent findings suggest that the virus preferentially infects neural stem cells and thereby deregulates gene expression, cell cycle progression, and increases cell death. However, neuronal stem cells are not the only brain cells that are susceptible to ZIKV and infection of other brain cells may contribute to disease progression. Herein, we characterized ZIKV replication in astrocytes, and profiled temporal changes in host microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcriptomes during infection. We observed the deregulation of numerous processes known to be involved in flavivirus infection, including genes involved in the unfolded protein response pathway. Moreover, a number of miRNAs were upregulated, including miR-30e-3p, miR-30e-5p, and, miR-17-5p, which have been associated with other flavivirus infections. This study highlights potential miRNAs that may be of importance in ZIKV pathogenesis.
