ZIKV Infection and miRNA Network in Pathogenesis and Immune Response

Abstract

Over the years, viral infections have caused severe illness in humans. Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquito vectors that leads to notable neurological impairment, whose most dramatic impact is the Congenital ZIKV Syndrome (CZS). ZIKV targets neuronal precursor cells leading to apoptosis and further impairment of neuronal development, causing microcephaly, lissencephaly, ventriculomegaly, and calcifications. Several regulators of biological processes are involved in CZS development, and in this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) seem to have a fundamental role. miRNAs are important regulators of protein translation, as they form the RISC silencing complex and interact with complementary mRNA target sequences to further post-transcriptional repression. In this context, little is known about their participation in the pathogenesis of viral infections. In this review, we discuss how miRNAs could relate to ZIKV and other flavivirus infections.

Keywords: ZIKV; flavivirus; microRNAs; viral infection.

Figure 1

Overview of miRNA biogenesis. Biogenesis consists of the miRNA gene transcription and maturation that involves the following steps: Pri-miRNA processing by DROSHA; Processing of pre-miRNA by DICER; Other modifications to produce mature miRNA and RISC complex formation to further mature miRNAs regulate mRNA and consequently interfere in protein production. Figure created by authors using BioRender.com.

Figure 2

MiRNAs post-transcription regulation. miRNAs control (A) brain development and different pathway involved (B) in antiviral immune response, neurogenesis, cell death, and cell cycle in response to ZIKV and other flavivirus infections. Figure created by authors using BioRender.com.