Pioneering siRNA-Mediated Protection of Mammalian Cells against Zika Virus (MR-766) Infection

Here, we present empirical data documenting the siRNA-mediated protection of cells after Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. siRNAs were designed to target well-conserved sequences across the ZIKV genome. Several delivery technologies were utilized. After the electroporation of 100 nM siRNA into human hepatocyte-derived carcinoma (Huh7) cells, the Feron Zv-2 sequence (specific to the ZIKV NS3 gene) yielded a cell viability of 150.3% ± 7.4% (SEM: n = 4) (p = 0.0004) relative to the cells treated only with the virus (33.9% ± 12%, SEM: n = 4). Furthermore, 100 nM siRNA Feron Zv-4 (specific to ZIKV 3’UTR) resulted in 119.1% ± 11.2% cell viability (SEM: n = 4) relative to the control cells treated with ZIKV (p = 0.0021). The cells were electroporated with siRNA prior to ZIKV infection and viability was monitored four days after this. Additionally, two novel siRNA delivery systems were tested. The first utilized recombinant Bacillus anthracis PA83 (octomer-forming mutants), co-incubated with the N-terminal 255 amino acids of B. anthracis lethal factor (LFn) fused in-frame with the RNA binding domain for human protein kinase R (LFn-PKR) at a concentration of 50 µg/mL (each). Here, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, treated with 100 nM siRNA Feron Zv-1, yielded 79.0% ± 4.0% viability relative to the control (50.2% ± 1.7%, SEM: n = 3) three days after exposure to ZIKV (p = 0.0096). Finally, HeLa exosomes loaded with siRNA Feron-Zv2 were incubated with Huh7 cells prior to ZIKV infection. For the siRNA-exosome treated cells, a viability of 123% ± 46% (SEM: n = 18), relative to 8% ± 16% (SEM: n = 18) for the same concentration of control HeLa exosomes, was recorded (p = 0.0416). In each instance, 0.3 moI was used and cell viability monitored using the PierceTM Firefly Luciferase Glow Assay Kit by Thermo ScientificTM. Here, we show for the first time that siRNA can significantly reduce ZIKV-induced cell killing. Future work will require quantitating ZIKV mRNA in relation to siRNA treatment, as well as testing the siRNAs and delivery systems within more complex models.