Zika Eye Disease: Potential Treatments
- A new study in iScience sheds light on the connection between zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy and ocular deformities, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
- While it's known to cause neurological disorders like microcephaly, clinical studies have also linked it to retinal lesions and optic nerve issues in infants.
- Ashok Kumar, professor of ophthalmology, visual and anatomical sciences at Wayne State and senior author, said the study aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind ZIKV-related eye problems,...
Zika Eye Disease: Potential Treatments emerges as a critical concern, with a new study spotlighting the role of cholesterol metabolism in Zika-related eye abnormalities. Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers link Zika virus infection during pregnancy to ocular issues, opening doors to potential therapeutic interventions. The research identifies ABCG1 and SREBP-2 as key players, with targeting showing promise in reducing viral replication. This could extend to other enveloped viruses. News Directory 3 brings you insights on this significant advancement in medical understanding. Discover what’s next in the development of novel antiviral treatments and how they may impact Zika and related viral infections.
Cholesterol Metabolism Linked to Zika Virus Eye abnormalities
Updated June 13, 2025
A new study in iScience sheds light on the connection between zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy and ocular deformities, suggesting potential therapeutic targets. Researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine found that cholesterol metabolism is significantly involved in ZIKV-related eye abnormalities.
The Zika virus poses a global reproductive health threat. While it’s known to cause neurological disorders like microcephaly, clinical studies have also linked it to retinal lesions and optic nerve issues in infants. Currently, there are no specific vaccines or antiviral treatments available.
Ashok Kumar, professor of ophthalmology, visual and anatomical sciences at Wayne State and senior author, said the study aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind ZIKV-related eye problems, focusing on cellular metabolism to identify therapeutic targets. The team’s transcriptomic analysis of ZIKV-infected retinal pigment epithelial cells revealed meaningful changes in the cholesterol pathway.
The research focused on ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) and sterol response element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), two key cholesterol metabolism regulators. Cell culture experiments showed that increased ABCG1 activity reduced ZIKV replication, while inhibiting SREBP-2 lowered cholesterol levels and reduced viral replication. Mouse model studies indicated that treatment with an LXR agonist or SREBP-2 inhibitor lessened ocular abnormalities tied to ZIKV infection.
“This study highlights the intricate interplay between cholesterol metabolism and ZIKV infection in the eye,” said Sneha Singh, postdoctoral fellow in Kumar’s lab. “Our findings suggest that targeting cholesterol pathway components, such as ABCG1 and SREBP-2, could offer promising therapeutic strategies for mitigating ZIKV-induced ocular complications.”
Kumar added that the implications of their study could extend beyond Zika,potentially applying to other enveloped viruses like West Nile,Japanese encephalitis,and Dengue.
Kumar’s team is now using a lipidomics approach to identify lipid molecules with both proviral and antiviral properties, seeking new antiviral therapeutics. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Eye Institute.
What’s next
The researchers plan to further investigate the identified lipid molecules to develop novel antiviral treatments, potentially impacting the management of Zika virus and other related viral infections.