1
|
Alippe Y, Wang L, Coskun R, Muraro SP, Zhao FR, Elam-Noll M, White JM, Vota DM, Hauk VC, Gordon JI, Handley SA, Diamond MS. Fetal MAVS and type I IFN signaling pathways control ZIKV infection in the placenta and maternal decidua. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20240694. [PMID: 39042188 PMCID: PMC11270594 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20240694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The contribution of placental immune responses to congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) syndrome remains poorly understood. Here, we leveraged a mouse model of ZIKV infection to identify mechanisms of innate immune restriction exclusively in the fetal compartment of the placenta. ZIKV principally infected mononuclear trophoblasts in the junctional zone, which was limited by mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) and type I interferon (IFN) signaling mechanisms. Single nuclear RNA sequencing revealed MAVS-dependent expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in spongiotrophoblasts but not in other placental cells that use alternate pathways to induce ISGs. ZIKV infection of Ifnar1-/- or Mavs-/- placentas was associated with greater infection of the adjacent immunocompetent decidua, and heterozygous Mavs+/- or Ifnar1+/- dams carrying immunodeficient fetuses sustained greater maternal viremia and tissue infection than dams carrying wild-type fetuses. Thus, MAVS-IFN signaling in the fetus restricts ZIKV infection in junctional zone trophoblasts, which modulates dissemination and outcome for both the fetus and the pregnant mother.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Female
- Animals
- Pregnancy
- Interferon Type I/metabolism
- Interferon Type I/immunology
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics
- Placenta/immunology
- Placenta/virology
- Placenta/metabolism
- Zika Virus Infection/immunology
- Zika Virus Infection/virology
- Zika Virus/immunology
- Zika Virus/physiology
- Mice
- Decidua/immunology
- Decidua/virology
- Decidua/metabolism
- Fetus/immunology
- Fetus/virology
- Trophoblasts/immunology
- Trophoblasts/virology
- Trophoblasts/metabolism
- Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Immunity, Innate
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/immunology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology
- Disease Models, Animal
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yael Alippe
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Leran Wang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Center for Genome Sciences, Lab and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Reyan Coskun
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stéfanie P Muraro
- Campinas State University, Laboratory of Emerging Viruses , Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fang R Zhao
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michelle Elam-Noll
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - J Michael White
- Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daiana M Vota
- Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales , Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanesa C Hauk
- Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales , Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey I Gordon
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Center for Genome Sciences, Lab and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Scott A Handley
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Center for Genome Sciences, Lab and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Center for Genome Sciences, Lab and Genomic Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky the Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity to Microbial Pathogens, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Creisher PS, Klein SL. Pathogenesis of viral infections during pregnancy. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0007323. [PMID: 38421182 PMCID: PMC11237665 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00073-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYViral infections during pregnancy are associated with significant adverse perinatal and fetal outcomes. Pregnancy is a unique immunologic and physiologic state, which can influence control of virus replication, severity of disease, and vertical transmission. The placenta is the organ of the maternal-fetal interface and provides defense against microbial infection while supporting the semi-allogeneic fetus via tolerogenic immune responses. Some viruses, such as cytomegalovirus, Zika virus, and rubella virus, can breach these defenses, directly infecting the fetus and having long-lasting consequences. Even without direct placental infection, other viruses, including respiratory viruses like influenza viruses and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, still cause placental damage and inflammation. Concentrations of progesterone and estrogens rise during pregnancy and contribute to immunological adaptations, placentation, and placental development and play a pivotal role in creating a tolerogenic environment at the maternal-fetal interface. Animal models, including mice, nonhuman primates, rabbits, and guinea pigs, are instrumental for mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of viral infections during pregnancy and identification of targetable treatments to improve health outcomes of pregnant individuals and offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Azamor T, Cunha DP, Nobre Pires KS, Lira Tanabe EL, Melgaço JG, Vieira da Silva AM, Ribeiro-Alves M, Calvo TL, Tubarão LN, da Silva J, Fernandes CB, Fonseca de Souza A, Torrentes de Carvalho A, Avvad-Portari E, da Cunha Guida L, Gomes L, Lopes Moreira ME, Dinis Ano Bom AP, Cristina da Costa Neves P, Missailidis S, Vasconcelos Z, Borbely AU, Moraes MO. Decidual production of interferon lambda in response to ZIKV persistence: Clinical evidence and in vitro modelling. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30613. [PMID: 38737240 PMCID: PMC11087979 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infections during pregnancy can result in Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS), a range of severe neurological outcomes in fetuses that primarily occur during early gestational stages possibly due to placental damage. Although some placentas can maintain ZIKV persistence for weeks or months after the initial infection and diagnosis, the impact of this viral persistence is still unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the immunological repercussion of ZIKV persistence in term placentas. As such, term placentas from 64 pregnant women diagnosed with Zika in different gestational periods were analyzed by ZIKV RT-qPCR, examination of decidua and placental villous histopathology, and expression of inflammation-related genes and IFNL1-4. Subsequently, we explored primary cultures of term decidual Extravillous Trophoblasts (EVTs) and Term Chorionic Villi (TCV) explants, as in vitro models to access the immunological consequences of placental ZIKV infection. Placenta from CZS cases presented low IFNL1-4 expression, evidencing the critical protective role of theses cytokines in the clinical outcome. Term placentas cleared for ZIKV showed increased levels of IFNL1, 3, and 4, whether viral persistence was related with a proinflammatory profile. Conversely, upon ZIKV persistence placentas with decidual inflammation showed high IFNL1-4 levels. In vitro experiments showed that term EVTs are more permissive, and secreted higher levels of IFN-α2 and IFN-λ1 compared to TCV explants. The results suggest that, upon ZIKV persistence, the maternal-skewed decidua contributes to placental inflammatory and antiviral signature, through chronic deciduitis and IFNL upregulation. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the decidual responses against ZIKV. Hence, this study presents unique insights and valuable in vitro models for evaluating the immunological landscape of placentas upon ZIKV persistence.
Collapse
|
4
|
Philip DT, Goins NM, Catanzaro NJ, Misumi I, Whitmire JK, Atkins HM, Lazear HM. Interferon lambda restricts herpes simplex virus skin disease by suppressing neutrophil-mediated pathology. mBio 2024; 15:e0262323. [PMID: 38426749 PMCID: PMC11005406 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02623-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Type III interferons (IFN-λ) are antiviral and immunomodulatory cytokines that have been best characterized in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, but the effects of IFN-λ against skin infections have not been extensively investigated. We sought to define the skin-specific effects of IFN-λ against the highly prevalent human pathogen, herpes simplex virus (HSV). We infected mice lacking the IFN-λ receptor (Ifnlr1-/-), both the IFN-λ and the IFN-α/β receptors (Ifnar1-/-Ifnlr1-/-), or IFN-λ cytokines (Ifnl2/3-/-) and found that IFN-λ restricts the severity of HSV-1 and HSV-2 skin lesions without affecting viral loads. We used RNAseq to define IFN-λ- and IFN-β-induced transcriptional responses in primary mouse keratinocytes. Using conditional knockout mice, we found that IFN-λ signaling in both keratinocytes and neutrophils was necessary to control HSV-1 skin lesion severity and that IFN-λ signaling in keratinocytes suppressed CXCL9-mediated neutrophil recruitment to the skin. Furthermore, depleting neutrophils or blocking CXCL9 protected against severe HSV-1 skin lesions in Ifnlr1-/- mice. Altogether, our results suggest that IFN-λ plays an immunomodulatory role in the skin that restricts neutrophil-mediated pathology during HSV infection and suggests potential applications for IFN-λ in treating viral skin infections.IMPORTANCEType III interferons (IFN-λ) have been shown to have antiviral and immunomodulatory effects at epithelial barriers such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, but their effects on the skin have not been extensively investigated. We used mice lacking IFN-λ signaling to investigate the skin-specific effects of IFN-λ against the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which targets epithelial tissues to cause cold sores and genital herpes. We found that IFN-λ limited the severity of HSV skin lesions without affecting viral load and that this protective effect required IFN-λ signaling in both keratinocytes and neutrophils. We found that IFN-λ signaling in keratinocytes suppressed neutrophil recruitment to the skin and that depleting neutrophils protected against severe HSV skin lesions in the absence of IFN-λ. Altogether, our results suggest that IFN-λ plays an immunomodulatory role in the skin that restricts neutrophil-mediated pathology during HSV infection and suggests potential applications for IFN-λ in treating viral skin infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Drake T. Philip
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nigel M. Goins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Catanzaro
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ichiro Misumi
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason K. Whitmire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hannah M. Atkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Helen M. Lazear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schutt WR, Conde JN, Mladinich MC, Himmler GE, Mackow ER. ZIKV induction of tristetraprolin in endothelial and Sertoli cells post-transcriptionally inhibits IFNβ/λ expression and promotes ZIKV persistence. mBio 2023; 14:e0174223. [PMID: 37707056 PMCID: PMC10653947 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01742-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Our findings define a novel role for ZIKV-induced TTP expression in regulating IFNβ/IFNλ production in primary hBMECs and Sertoli cells. These cells comprise key physiological barriers subverted by ZIKV to access brain and testicular compartments and serve as reservoirs for persistent replication and dissemination. We demonstrate for the first time that the ARE-binding protein TTP is virally induced and post-transcriptionally regulates IFNβ/IFNλ secretion. In ZIKV-infected hBMEC and Sertoli cells, TTP knockout increased IFNβ/IFNλ secretion, while TTP expression blocked IFNβ/IFNλ secretion. The TTP-directed blockade of IFN secretion permits ZIKV spread and persistence in hBMECs and Sertoli cells and may similarly augment ZIKV spread across IFNλ-protected placental barriers. Our work highlights the importance of post-transcriptional ZIKV regulation of IFN expression and secretion in cells that regulate viral access to protected compartments and defines a novel mechanism of ZIKV-regulated IFN responses which may facilitate neurovirulence and sexual transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William R. Schutt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jonas N. Conde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Megan C. Mladinich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Grace E. Himmler
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erich R. Mackow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Creisher PS, Perry JL, Zhong W, Lei J, Mulka KR, Ryan WH, Zhou R, Akin EH, Liu A, Mitzner W, Burd I, Pekosz A, Klein SL. Adverse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant mice are gestational age-dependent and resolve with antiviral treatment. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e170687. [PMID: 37581940 PMCID: PMC10575736 DOI: 10.1172/jci170687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with severe COVID-19 and adverse fetal outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Moreover, clinical studies assessing therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy are limited. To address these gaps, we developed a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Outbred CD1 mice were infected at E6, E10, or E16 with a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 (maSCV2) virus. Outcomes were gestational age-dependent, with greater morbidity, reduced antiviral immunity, greater viral titers, and impaired fetal growth and neurodevelopment occurring with infection at E16 (third trimester equivalent) than with infection at either E6 (first trimester equivalent) or E10 (second trimester equivalent). To assess the efficacy of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir, which is recommended for individuals who are pregnant with COVID-19, we treated E16-infected dams with mouse-equivalent doses of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Treatment reduced pulmonary viral titers, decreased maternal morbidity, and prevented offspring growth restriction and neurodevelopmental impairments. Our results highlight that severe COVID-19 during pregnancy and fetal growth restriction is associated with heightened virus replication in maternal lungs. Ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir mitigated maternal morbidity along with fetal growth and neurodevelopment restriction after SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings prompt the need for further consideration of pregnancy in preclinical and clinical studies of therapeutics against viral infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S. Creisher
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jamie L. Perry
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Weizhi Zhong
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Lei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen R. Mulka
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - W. Hurley Ryan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruifeng Zhou
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elgin H. Akin
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anguo Liu
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wayne Mitzner
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Philip DT, Goins NM, Catanzaro NJ, Misumi I, Whitmire JK, Atkins HM, Lazear HM. Interferon lambda restricts herpes simplex virus skin disease by suppressing neutrophil-mediated pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.11.557277. [PMID: 37745383 PMCID: PMC10515813 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.11.557277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Type III interferons (IFN-λ) are antiviral and immunomodulatory cytokines that have been best characterized in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, but the effects of IFN-λ against skin infections have not been extensively investigated. We sought to define the skin-specific effects of IFN-λ against the highly prevalent human pathogen herpes simplex virus (HSV). We infected mice lacking the IFN-λ receptor (Ifnlr1-/-), both the IFN-λ and the IFN-αβ receptor (Ifnar1-/- Ifnlr1-/-), or IFN-λ cytokines (Ifnl2/3-/-) and found that IFN-λ restricts the severity of HSV-1 and HSV-2 skin lesions, independent of a direct effect on viral load. Using conditional knockout mice, we found that IFN-λ signaling in both keratinocytes and neutrophils was necessary to control HSV-1 skin lesion severity, and that IFN-λ signaling in keratinocytes suppressed CXCL9-mediated neutrophil recruitment to the skin. Furthermore, depleting neutrophils or blocking CXCL9 protected against severe HSV-1 skin lesions in Ifnlr1-/- mice. Altogether, our results suggest that IFN-λ plays an immunomodulatory role in the skin that restricts neutrophil-mediated pathology during HSV infection, and suggest potential applications for IFN-λ in treating viral skin infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Drake T. Philip
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Nigel M. Goins
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Nicholas J. Catanzaro
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Ichiro Misumi
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Jason K. Whitmire
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Hannah M. Atkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Helen M. Lazear
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Creisher PS, Perry JL, Zhong W, Lei J, Mulka KR, Ryan H, Zhou R, Akin EH, Liu A, Mitzner W, Burd I, Pekosz A, Klein SL. Adverse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant mice are gestational age-dependent and resolve with antiviral treatment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.533961. [PMID: 36993658 PMCID: PMC10055386 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with severe COVID-19 and adverse fetal outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Moreover, clinical studies assessing therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy are limited. To address these gaps, we developed a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Outbred CD1 mice were infected at embryonic day (E) 6, E10, or E16 with a mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2 (maSCV2) virus. Outcomes were gestational age-dependent, with greater morbidity, reduced anti-viral immunity, greater viral titers, and more adverse fetal outcomes occurring with infection at E16 (3rd trimester-equivalent) than with infection at either E6 (1st trimester-equivalent) or E10 (2nd trimester-equivalent). To assess the efficacy of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (recommended for pregnant individuals with COVID-19), we treated E16-infected dams with mouse equivalent doses of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Treatment reduced pulmonary viral titers, decreased maternal morbidity, and prevented adverse offspring outcomes. Our results highlight that severe COVID-19 during pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes are associated with heightened virus replication in maternal lungs. Ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir mitigated adverse maternal and fetal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings prompt the need for further consideration of pregnancy in preclinical and clinical studies of therapeutics against viral infections.
Collapse
|
9
|
Peiper AM, Helm EW, Nguyen Q, Phillips M, Williams CG, Shah D, Tatum S, Iyer N, Grodzki M, Eurell LB, Nasir A, Baldridge MT, Karst SM. Infection of neonatal mice with the murine norovirus strain WU23 is a robust model to study norovirus pathogenesis. Lab Anim (NY) 2023; 52:119-129. [PMID: 37142696 PMCID: PMC10234811 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-023-01166-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Noroviruses are the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea and foodborne disease worldwide. While they are a major cause of disease in all age groups, infections in the very young can be quite severe, with annual estimates of 50,000-200,000 fatalities in children under 5 years old. In spite of the remarkable disease burden associated with norovirus infections, very little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms underlying norovirus diarrhea, principally because of the lack of tractable small animal models. The development of the murine norovirus (MNV) model nearly two decades ago has facilitated progress in understanding host-norovirus interactions and norovirus strain variability. However, MNV strains tested thus far either do not cause intestinal disease or were isolated from extraintestinal tissue, raising concerns about translatability of research findings to human norovirus disease. Consequently, the field lacks a strong model of norovirus gastroenteritis. Here we provide a comprehensive characterization of a new small animal model system for the norovirus field that overcomes prior weaknesses. Specifically, we demonstrate that the WU23 MNV strain isolated from a mouse naturally presenting with diarrhea causes a transient reduction in weight gain and acute self-resolving diarrhea in neonatal mice of several inbred mouse lines. Moreover, our findings reveal that norovirus-induced diarrhea is associated with infection of subepithelial cells in the small intestine and systemic spread. Finally, type I interferons (IFNs) are critical to protect hosts from norovirus-induced intestinal disease whereas type III IFNs exacerbate diarrhea. This latter finding is consistent with other emerging data implicating type III IFNs in the exacerbation of some viral diseases. This new model system should enable a detailed investigation of norovirus disease mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Peiper
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily W Helm
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Quyen Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew Phillips
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Caroline G Williams
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dhairya Shah
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah Tatum
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Neha Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marco Grodzki
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Laura B Eurell
- Office of Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Aqsa Nasir
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Megan T Baldridge
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stephanie M Karst
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is unusual among flaviviruses in its ability to spread between humans through sexual contact, as well as by mosquitoes. Sexual transmission has the potential to change the epidemiology and geographic range of ZIKV compared to mosquito-borne transmission and potentially could produce distinct clinical manifestations, so it is important to understand the host mechanisms that control susceptibility to sexually transmitted ZIKV. ZIKV replicates poorly in wild-type mice following subcutaneous inoculation, so most ZIKV pathogenesis studies use mice lacking type I interferon (IFN-αβ) signaling (e.g., Ifnar1-/-). We found that wild-type mice support ZIKV replication following intravaginal infection, consistent with prior studies, although the infection remained localized to the lower female reproductive tract. Vaginal ZIKV infection required a high-progesterone state (pregnancy or pretreatment with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA]) even in Ifnar1-/- mice that otherwise are highly susceptible to ZIKV infection. Progesterone-mediated susceptibility did not appear to result from a compromised epithelial barrier, blunted antiviral gene induction, or changes in vaginal leukocyte populations, leaving open the mechanism by which progesterone confers susceptibility to vaginal ZIKV infection. DMPA treatment is a key component of mouse vaginal infection models for herpes simplex virus and Chlamydia, but the mechanisms by which DMPA increases susceptibility to those pathogens also remain poorly defined. Understanding how progesterone mediates susceptibility to ZIKV vaginal infection may provide insights into host mechanisms influencing susceptibility to diverse sexually transmitted pathogens. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted by mosquitoes, similar to other flaviviruses. However, ZIKV is unusual among flaviviruses in its ability also to spread through sexual transmission. We found that ZIKV was able to replicate in the vaginas of wild-type mice, even though these mice do not support ZIKV replication by other routes, suggesting that the vagina is particularly susceptible to ZIKV infection. Vaginal susceptibility was dependent on a high-progesterone state, which is a common feature of mouse vaginal infection models for other pathogens, through mechanisms that have remained poorly defined. Understanding how progesterone mediates susceptibility to ZIKV vaginal infection may provide insights into host mechanisms that influence susceptibility to diverse sexually transmitted pathogens.
Collapse
|