Research unravels consequences of Zika virus attack on neural cells

Previous studies regarding the damage of the Zika virus on the brain had already pointed out the virus's predilection for a certain neural cell: the astrocyte. However, few studies have proposed to identify the infection effects on these cells, as well as their association with developmental alterations, including brain malformations and microcephaly. Recently published in the Scientific Reports journal, a new article sought to unravel the virus reactions on laboratory-created astrocytes, comparing them to the same cells present in the brain tissue of animals and fetuses infected with Zika.

Marked by their branched-tipped structure and vast abundance in the human brain tissue, astrocytes are named after the Greek word for stars. Entangling our sovereign organ, this neural constellation has a fundamental role on our cognitive functions, since it provides metabolic support for neuron cells, participates in the formation of synapses and also composes the blood-brain barrier, a structure that selects the entrance of substances in the brain, protecting it from harmful toxins. The study carried out by the D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), in partnership with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and other Brazilian institutions, found that part of the neural complications caused by Zika might be related to its damage on astrocytes, which would also contribute to the appearing of brain malformations.

The corresponding author of the article was the neuroscientist Stevens Rehen, a researcher at UFRJ and IDOR involved in several other studies related to Zika, including the first publication to analyze the effects of the virus on laboratory-developed human mini-brains. In the most recent article, Rehen and his team uncovered the changes that this viral infection causes in developing neural cells, as well as their consequences for brain development.

The scientific literature had already identified Zika's attack on astrocytes, but until now, no study had focused on understanding how it affects its functioning."

Karina Karmirian, a member of Rehen's group and one of the first authors of the study

Among the damages that the virus causes to these cells are the overload of its mitochondria, DNA breakage, and oxidative stress, the latter being a common disturbance to premature aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Multiple analyzes

To achieve the scope of the research, the scientists created separately 3 cell types that are present in the human fetal brain: astrocytes, neurons, and neural stem cells. When infected with the Zika virus, the most severe damages were proven in astrocytes, whose organelles responsible for cellular respiration -- the mitochondria -- started to excessively produce free radicals, generating oxidative stress and changes in their morphology. In addition to the high percentage of cell death, many surviving astrocytes also revealed reduced and irregular cell nuclei after the infection.

Helena Borges, a professor at UFRJ and one of the researchers in the study, detailed why the damage caused by the Zika virus can be permanent in astrocytes. "To repair double-strand DNA breaks, there are two main types of DNA repair: one that uses an entire copy of DNA as a template - the homologous recombination - and a faster repair mechanism yet potentially subject to mutation, which dispenses the presence of an integrated DNA copy: the non-homologous recombination. Proliferating cells, like neural stem cells, can use both repair mechanisms. However, differentiated cells such as astrocytes have a reduced chance of homologous recombination, increasing the chance of permanent mutations appearing in these cells", explains the expert.

The research also analyzed materials regarding brain tissues of fetuses that didn't survive the infection. Scientists have identified greater signs of inflammation in fetal astrocytes, confirming the relevance of these cells on the virus attack pattern. The same inflammatory profile was identified in animal studies: mice infected with the Zika virus also revealed greater vulnerability in their astrocytes, in comparison to neurons. Microglial cells -- which, like astrocytes, are responsible for supporting neurons -- were also notably infected during the process. "These cells have an immune function in the brain and reached an inflammation level close to that of astrocytes during the experiments. The neurons themselves have a low infection, but they depend on communication between astrocytes and microglia for a healthful performance. This leads us into assuming in which way neurons could also be affected in the long term, due to the action of Zika in these cells that are essential to their functioning", informs Karmirian.

The findings on the Brazilian research lead scientists to conclude that, due to the crucial role of astrocytes in the upgrowth and functioning of the brain, their imbalance during neural development should contribute to serious health implications throughout life. This regards not only brain malformations such as microcephaly, but possibly other neurological disorders that could manifest in the adulthood of those infected in the womb, regardless of apparent malformations. The researchers say that due to the fledgling of long-term studies regarding Zika, further investigations will still be needed to determine the consequences of its infection on both children and adults, as possible neurological problems may occur subsequent to the extended action of the virus on young astrocytes.