Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne Flaviviruses. ZIKV is known to cause birth
defect in pregnant women, especially microcephaly in the fetus. Hence, more study is required
to understand the infection of Zika virus towards human brain microvascular endothelial cells
(MECs). In this study, brain MECs were infected with ZIKV at MOI of 1 and 5 in vitro. The
changes in barrier function and membrane permeability of ZIKV-infected brain MECs were
determined using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system followed by gene
expression of ZIKV-infected brain MECs at 24 hours post infection using one-color gene
expression microarray. The ECIS results demonstrated that ZIKV infection enhances vascular
leakage by increasing cell membrane permeability via alteration of brain MECs barrier function.
This was further supported by high expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (lnc-IL6-2,
TNFAIP1 and TNFAIP6), adhesion molecules (CERCAM and ESAM) and growth factor (FIGF).
Overall, findings of this study revealed that ZIKV infection could alter the barrier function of
brain MECs by altering adhesion molecules and inflammatory response.