da Silva Fernanda Marques, Marschner Rafael Aguiar, Berger Markus, Teixeira Thais Fumaco, Muterle Ana Paula, Rodrigues Letícia, Ribeiro Rafael Teixeira, Roehe Paulo Michel, Souza Diogo Onofre, Gonçalves Carlos Alberto Saraiva, Sesterheim Patrícia
Experimental Cardiology Center, Institute of Cardiology/University Foundation of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Jul 31;19(7):e0013292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013292. eCollection 2025 Jul.
The Zika virus (ZIKV) has been associated with neurological and cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, arrhythmias and thrombotic events. This study evaluated the thrombotic and oxidative responses induced by ZIKV in cardiac cells and immunocompetent mice. Cardiac (H9c2) and vascular smooth muscle (A7r5) cell lines were infected with ZIKV and analyzed for viral replication, cytopathic effects and oxidative stress. In vivo, female FVB/N mice were inoculated with ZIKV and cardiac tissue was analyzed for markers of myocardial damage, prothrombotic enzymes and oxidative stress. H9c2 cells demonstrated higher viral replication and cytopathic effects than A7r5 cells. ZIKV-infected cells exhibited increased lactate dehydrogenase release and oxidative stress markers, including elevated protein carbonylation and reactive oxygen species. In vivo, infected mice displayed significant increases in cardiac troponin T levels, indicative of myocardial injury. Analysis of cardiac tissue revealed elevated thrombin and Factor Xa activities and reduced plasmin, indicating a prothrombotic state. Oxidative stress was marked by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD) and reduced glutathione levels, alongside heightened protein oxidation. This study demonstrates that ZIKV infection disrupts cardiovascular homeostasis by inducing myocardial injury, prothrombotic state and oxidative stress. These findings underscore the potential of ZIKV to affect the cardiovascular system beyond its established neurotropism, highlighting the need for further investigation into its systemic impacts.
寨卡病毒(ZIKV)已被证实与包括心肌炎、心律失常和血栓形成事件在内的神经和心血管并发症有关。本研究评估了ZIKV在心脏细胞和具有免疫活性的小鼠中诱导的血栓形成和氧化反应。用ZIKV感染心脏(H9c2)和血管平滑肌(A7r5)细胞系,并分析病毒复制、细胞病变效应和氧化应激。在体内,给雌性FVB/N小鼠接种ZIKV,并分析心脏组织中的心肌损伤标志物、促血栓形成酶和氧化应激。H9c2细胞比A7r5细胞表现出更高的病毒复制和细胞病变效应。ZIKV感染的细胞表现出乳酸脱氢酶释放增加和氧化应激标志物增加,包括蛋白质羰基化和活性氧升高。在体内,感染的小鼠心脏肌钙蛋白T水平显著升高,表明心肌损伤。对心脏组织的分析显示凝血酶和因子Xa活性升高,纤溶酶减少,表明处于促血栓形成状态。氧化应激的特征是抗氧化酶(GPx、SOD)活性增加、谷胱甘肽水平降低以及蛋白质氧化加剧。本研究表明,ZIKV感染通过诱导心肌损伤、促血栓形成状态和氧化应激破坏心血管稳态。这些发现强调了ZIKV在其既定的嗜神经性之外影响心血管系统的潜力,突出了进一步研究其全身影响的必要性。