Transcriptome analysis of human macrophages upon chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection reveals regulation of distinct signaling and metabolic pathways during the early and late stages of infection

Macrophages are efficient reservoirs for viruses that enable the viruses to survive over a longer period of infection. Alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are known to persist in macrophages even after the acute febrile phase. The viral particles replicate in macrophages at a very low level over extended period of time and are localized in tissues that are often less accessible by treatment. Comprehensive experimental studies are thus needed to characterize the CHIKV-induced modulation of host genes in these myeloid lineage cells and in one such pursuit, we obtained global transcriptomes of a human macrophage cell line infected with CHIKV, over its early and late timepoints of infection. We analyzed the pathways, especially immune related, perturbed over these timepoints and observed several host factors to be differentially expressed in infected macrophages in a time-dependent manner. We postulate that these pathways may play crucial roles in the persistence of CHIKV in macrophages.

Automated summary

Macrophages serve as efficient reservoirs for viruses, allowing the viruses to persist for extended periods of time during infection. Alphaviruses, including CHIKV, can remain in macrophages even after the acute phase of fever. The viral particles replicate at low levels and localize in less accessible tissues. A comprehensive experimental study was conducted to characterize CHIKV-induced modulation of host genes in macrophages. Transcriptomes of a human macrophage cell line infected with CHIKV at early and late timepoints were analyzed, revealing perturbed pathways, especially immune-related ones, and differential expression of host factors in infected macrophages over time. These pathways may play crucial roles in the persistence of CHIKV in macrophages.