Zika virus impairs autophagic flux in trabecular meshwork, and inhibition of autophagy restricts ocular viral transmission and associated pathology.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) is the lone member of Flavivirus family known to cause congenital glaucoma following in utero exposure. The molecular mechanisms of ZIKV-induced glaucoma remain elusive, with no known therapeutic modalities. Autophagy plays a dual role in viral infections and glaucoma pathogenesis. However, how ZIKV interferes with autophagic pathways in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and whether autophagy contributes to ZIKV-induced ocular complications remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of autophagy in ZIKV ocular pathogenesis utilizing a primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) and IFNAR1^-/- mouse model of ocular infection. Our results show that ZIKV permissively infects HTMC, elicits a dysregulated cytokine response, and triggers autophagic activity

SUBMITTER: Ahmad F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12502531 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature