Influence of IgG+ serum on Zika virus infection response in a model of neural precursor cells

Abstract

The high frequency of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it an emerging threat in 2016. Presently, countries in South America continue to report a significant number of Zika virus cases. Zika virus infection has been associated with neurological diseases. This article explores the impact of ZIKV infection on IgG + Zika-reactive conditions using a neurosphere model. For this investigation, neurospheres derived from Wistar rats were exposed to the Zika virus and to IgG + conditions reactive to Zika. The relative expression levels of the NOTCH-1, HES-1, and HEY-1 genes were assessed through quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Additionally, the concentrations of GCSF and IL-10 proteins were quantified using a Luminex immunoassay. Morphological evaluation of the neurospheres was conducted, with parameters such as area and irregularity rate being analyzed using Image Pro Plus 7 software.The irregularity rate of ZIKV neurospheres decreased at its lowest concentration; however, our morphology analysis was insufficient to fully elucidate the impact of ZIKV on neurospheres. Interestingly, IgG + serum exhibited neuroprotective effects against subsequent Zika virus exposure, restoring NOTCH-1 and HES-1 expression levels to normal. HEY-1 expression remained unaffected by Zika virus exposure but decreased with IgG + serum. Surprisingly, levels of the anti-inflammatory markers GCSF and IL-10 showed no significant changes. These findings highlight the complex interplay between ZIKV infection, immune response, and neurodevelopmental processes. Further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these observations and explore potential therapeutic interventions.