Viral infection in early pregnancy is a major cause of microcephaly. However, how distinct viruses impair human brain development remains poorly understood. Here we use human brain organoids to study the mechanisms underlying microcephaly caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). We find that both viruses efficiently replicate in brain organoids and attenuate their growth by causing cell death. However, transcriptional profiling reveals that ZIKV and HSV-1 elicit distinct cellular responses and that HSV-1 uniquely impairs neuroepithelial identity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, although both viruses fail to potently induce the type I interferon system, the organoid defects caused by their infection can be rescued by distinct type I interferons. These phenotypes are not seen in 2D cultures, highlighting the superiority of brain organoids in modeling viral infections. These results uncover virus-specific mechanisms and complex cellular immune defenses associated with virus-induced microcephaly.

Krenn, V., Bosone, C., Burkard, T., Spanier, J., Kalinke, U., Calistri, A., et al. (2021). Organoid modeling of Zika and herpes simplex virus 1 infections reveals virus-specific responses leading to microcephaly. CELL STEM CELL, 28(8), 1362-1379 [10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.004].

Organoid modeling of Zika and herpes simplex virus 1 infections reveals virus-specific responses leading to microcephaly

Krenn, Veronica
Primo
;
2021

Abstract

Viral infection in early pregnancy is a major cause of microcephaly. However, how distinct viruses impair human brain development remains poorly understood. Here we use human brain organoids to study the mechanisms underlying microcephaly caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). We find that both viruses efficiently replicate in brain organoids and attenuate their growth by causing cell death. However, transcriptional profiling reveals that ZIKV and HSV-1 elicit distinct cellular responses and that HSV-1 uniquely impairs neuroepithelial identity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, although both viruses fail to potently induce the type I interferon system, the organoid defects caused by their infection can be rescued by distinct type I interferons. These phenotypes are not seen in 2D cultures, highlighting the superiority of brain organoids in modeling viral infections. These results uncover virus-specific mechanisms and complex cellular immune defenses associated with virus-induced microcephaly.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
brain organoids; herpes simplex virus; innate immune response; interferons; microcephaly; neural progenitors; neuroepithelial polarity; Zika virus;
English
2021
28
8
1362
1379
open
Krenn, V., Bosone, C., Burkard, T., Spanier, J., Kalinke, U., Calistri, A., et al. (2021). Organoid modeling of Zika and herpes simplex virus 1 infections reveals virus-specific responses leading to microcephaly. CELL STEM CELL, 28(8), 1362-1379 [10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.004].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/397667
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