Moreover, we analyzed other genes involved in inflammatory responses (IL1B, IL8, TNFA, IFNB, IFNA, and IFNG) and BBB physiology and found that IL1B, IL8, and IFNB were found upregulated upon infection, whereas IFNG, Pgp, and genes encoding junctional-associated proteins occludin, claudin 5, and ZO-1 were downregulated in ZIKV AF-infected hBLECs, consistent with the subtle effects on endothelium permeability that we observed (Fig. 3c and d; Fig. S3d). Here, CXCL8 is linked to atrial fibrillation.