Antiviral Bioactivity of Resveratrol Against Zika Virus Infection in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenol with increasing interest for its inhibitory effects on a wide variety of viruses. Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine, and which has become a major global health threat. Within the broad spectrum of ophthalmological manifestations after infection, retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) type is one of the most permissive and susceptible to the virus. This work explored the protective effects of RES on ZIKV-infected human RPE cells. RES treatment resulted in a significant reduction of infectious viral titer in infected male ARPE-19 and female hTERT-RPE1 cells. This protection was positively influenced by the action of RES on mitochondrial dynamics, restoring the ZIKV induced fragmentation of mitochondrial network to conditions similar to those of uninfected control cultures. Also, docking studies showed that RES has a high affinity for two enzymes of the rate-limiting steps of pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis and viral polymerase. In conclusion, our findings indicated that RES could be considered as an antiviral agent to treat ZIKV-induced ocular abnormalities.

Nutraceutical Approach for the Treatment of Retinal Inflammation after Infections

“…Indeed, viruses use host-specific factors to complete their multiplication cycles, and inhibition of mitochondrial enzymes involved in nucleoside biosynthesis has been shown to be an effective antiviral strategy. In conclusion, they demonstrated the efficacy of resveratrol as an antiviral agent in the treatment of Zika-virus-induced eye diseases [50]. A schematic representation of the mechanism of action of resveratrol, proposed by the authors [50], is shown in Figure 8.…”

“…In conclusion, they demonstrated the efficacy of resveratrol as an antiviral agent in the treatment of Zika-virus-induced eye diseases [50]. A schematic representation of the mechanism of action of resveratrol, proposed by the authors [50], is shown in Figure 8.…”

Insights into the Anti-inflammatory and Antiviral Mechanisms of Resveratrol

“…Notably, a study proved the protective effects of resveratrol on ZIKV-infected human RPE cells. Also, a study reported that resveratrol had a high affinity for two enzymes of the rate-limiting steps of pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis and viral polymerase [92]. Currently, the inhibition of resveratrol on the NS3 helicase of Zika virus has been demonstrated.…”