Author(s): Melo, Heloísa Antoniella Braz de ; Nascimento, Gabriel Pasquarelli do ; Corrêa, Rafael ; Almeida, Raquel das Neves ; Santos, Igor de Oliveira ; Prado, Paulo Sousa ; Picolo, Victor ; Bem, Andreza Fabro de ; Pizato, Nathalia Marcolini Pelucio ; Magalhães, Kelly Grace
Date: 2020
Origin: Oasisbr
Subject(s): Ômega 3; Zika vírus
Zika virus (ZIKV) has a strong tropism for the nervous system and has been related to post-infection neurological syndromes. Once neuronal cells are infected, the virus is capable of modulating cell metabolism, leading to neurotoxicity and cellular death. The negative efect of ZIKV in neuron cells has been characterized. However, the description of molecules capable of reversing these cytotoxic efects is still under investigation. In this context, it has been largely demonstrated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, is highly neuroprotective. Here, we hypothesized that DHA’s neuroprotective proprieties could have an infuence on ZIKV-induced neurotoxicity in SHSY5Y cells. Our data showed that pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with DHA increased the cell viability and proliferation in ZIKV-infected cells. Moreover, DHA triggered an anti-infammatory response in those infected cells. Besides, DHA was capable of restoring mitochondria function and number in ZIKVinfected SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, cells pre-treated with DHA prior to ZIKV infection presented a lower viral load at diferent times of infection. Taking together, these results demonstrated that DHA has a potential anti-infammatory and neuroprotective efect against ZIKV infection in these neuron-like cells and could be a useful tool in the treatment against this virus.
