Heparin prevents Zika virus induced-cytopathic effects in human neural progenitor cells

Antiviral Res. 2017 Apr:140:13-17. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.12.023. Epub 2017 Jan 5.

Abstract

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak, which mainly affected Brazil and neighbouring states, demonstrated the paucity of information concerning the epidemiology of several flaviruses, but also highlighted the lack of available agents with which to treat such emerging diseases. Here, we show that heparin, a widely used anticoagulant, while exerting a modest inhibitory effect on Zika Virus replication, fully prevents virus-induced cell death of human neural progenitor cells (NPCs).

Keywords: Cell death; Heparin; Neural progenitor cells; Zika virus (ZIKV).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / drug effects*
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Heparin / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Neural Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neural Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neural Stem Cells / virology*
  • Zika Virus / drug effects*
  • Zika Virus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Heparin