Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease

Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection often results in a chronic joint condition known as Post-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint Disease (pCHIKV-CIJD). This condition disrupts individuals’ daily lives and contributes to increased healthcare expenditure. This study investigated the molecu...

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Main Authors: Mariana Severo Ramundo, Guilherme Cordenonsi da Fonseca, Felipe Ten-Caten, Alexandra L. Gerber, Ana Paula Guimarães, Erika Regina Manuli, Marina Farrel Côrtes, Geovana Maria Pereira, Otavio Brustolini, Milena Gomes Cabral, Carolina Dos Santos Lázari, Patrícia Brasil, Clarisse da Silveira Bressan, Helder I. Nakaya, Gláucia Paranhos-Baccalà, Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos, Ester Cerdeira Sabino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86761-x
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author Mariana Severo Ramundo
Guilherme Cordenonsi da Fonseca
Felipe Ten-Caten
Alexandra L. Gerber
Ana Paula Guimarães
Erika Regina Manuli
Marina Farrel Côrtes
Geovana Maria Pereira
Otavio Brustolini
Milena Gomes Cabral
Carolina Dos Santos Lázari
Patrícia Brasil
Clarisse da Silveira Bressan
Helder I. Nakaya
Gláucia Paranhos-Baccalà
Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos
Ester Cerdeira Sabino
author_facet Mariana Severo Ramundo
Guilherme Cordenonsi da Fonseca
Felipe Ten-Caten
Alexandra L. Gerber
Ana Paula Guimarães
Erika Regina Manuli
Marina Farrel Côrtes
Geovana Maria Pereira
Otavio Brustolini
Milena Gomes Cabral
Carolina Dos Santos Lázari
Patrícia Brasil
Clarisse da Silveira Bressan
Helder I. Nakaya
Gláucia Paranhos-Baccalà
Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos
Ester Cerdeira Sabino
author_sort Mariana Severo Ramundo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection often results in a chronic joint condition known as Post-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint Disease (pCHIKV-CIJD). This condition disrupts individuals’ daily lives and contributes to increased healthcare expenditure. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying pCHIKV-CIJD development by analyzing RNA transcripts, including small RNAs, of whole blood from CHIKV-infected patients. By comparing patients who evolved to pCHIKV-CIJD with those who did not, we identified molecular signatures associated with chronification in acute and post-acute disease phases. These molecules were primarily associated with an altered immune response regulation. Notably, LIFR, an immune receptor that enhanced IL-6 transcription, was down-regulated in the acute phase of pCHIKV-CIJD patients, while its inhibitor, hsa-miR-98-5p, was up-regulated in these individuals. Other downregulated genes include members of immune mechanisms whose impairment can lead to a reduction in the first line of antiviral response, thereby promoting virus persistence for a longer period in these patients. Additionally, pCHIKV-CIJD patients exhibited reduced transcript levels of MMP8, LFT, and DDIT4, genes already implicated in the pathological process of other types of inflammatory arthritis and seemingly relevant for pCHIKV-CIJD development. Overall, our findings provide insights into the early molecular mechanisms involved in the chronification and highlight potential targets for further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-c5d4b20cd83c4eeba9d4bbaa7ba1ad602025-08-20T02:16:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-86761-xTranscriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint diseaseMariana Severo Ramundo0Guilherme Cordenonsi da Fonseca1Felipe Ten-Caten2Alexandra L. Gerber3Ana Paula Guimarães4Erika Regina Manuli5Marina Farrel Côrtes6Geovana Maria Pereira7Otavio Brustolini8Milena Gomes Cabral9Carolina Dos Santos Lázari10Patrícia Brasil11Clarisse da Silveira Bressan12Helder I. Nakaya13Gláucia Paranhos-Baccalà14Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos15Ester Cerdeira Sabino16Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloLABINFO, Laboratório Nacional de Computação CientíficaDepartamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloLABINFO, Laboratório Nacional de Computação CientíficaLABINFO, Laboratório Nacional de Computação CientíficaDepartamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloDepartamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloDepartamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloLABINFO, Laboratório Nacional de Computação CientíficaDepartamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São PauloFleury Medicina e SaúdeInstituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo CruzInstituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo CruzScientific Platform Pasteur, Universidade de São PauloGlobal Medical Affairs Department, bioMérieux SALABINFO, Laboratório Nacional de Computação CientíficaLaboratorio de Investigaçao Medica LIM-46, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloAbstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection often results in a chronic joint condition known as Post-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint Disease (pCHIKV-CIJD). This condition disrupts individuals’ daily lives and contributes to increased healthcare expenditure. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying pCHIKV-CIJD development by analyzing RNA transcripts, including small RNAs, of whole blood from CHIKV-infected patients. By comparing patients who evolved to pCHIKV-CIJD with those who did not, we identified molecular signatures associated with chronification in acute and post-acute disease phases. These molecules were primarily associated with an altered immune response regulation. Notably, LIFR, an immune receptor that enhanced IL-6 transcription, was down-regulated in the acute phase of pCHIKV-CIJD patients, while its inhibitor, hsa-miR-98-5p, was up-regulated in these individuals. Other downregulated genes include members of immune mechanisms whose impairment can lead to a reduction in the first line of antiviral response, thereby promoting virus persistence for a longer period in these patients. Additionally, pCHIKV-CIJD patients exhibited reduced transcript levels of MMP8, LFT, and DDIT4, genes already implicated in the pathological process of other types of inflammatory arthritis and seemingly relevant for pCHIKV-CIJD development. Overall, our findings provide insights into the early molecular mechanisms involved in the chronification and highlight potential targets for further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86761-xCHIKVChikungunyaPost-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint DiseaseTotal RNA sequencingSmall RNA sequencingChikungunya prognosis
spellingShingle Mariana Severo Ramundo
Guilherme Cordenonsi da Fonseca
Felipe Ten-Caten
Alexandra L. Gerber
Ana Paula Guimarães
Erika Regina Manuli
Marina Farrel Côrtes
Geovana Maria Pereira
Otavio Brustolini
Milena Gomes Cabral
Carolina Dos Santos Lázari
Patrícia Brasil
Clarisse da Silveira Bressan
Helder I. Nakaya
Gláucia Paranhos-Baccalà
Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos
Ester Cerdeira Sabino
Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
Scientific Reports
CHIKV
Chikungunya
Post-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint Disease
Total RNA sequencing
Small RNA sequencing
Chikungunya prognosis
title Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
title_full Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
title_fullStr Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
title_short Transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
title_sort transcriptomic insights into early mechanisms underlying post chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease
topic CHIKV
Chikungunya
Post-Chikungunya Chronic Inflammatory Joint Disease
Total RNA sequencing
Small RNA sequencing
Chikungunya prognosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86761-x
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