Release of vasoactive cytokines by antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection of a human mast cell/basophil line

We report here the first demonstration of dengue virus infection and vasoac tive cytokine response of a cell of the mast cell/basophil lineage. Infecti on of KU812 cells was dependent on dengue-specific antibody and gave rise t o infectious virions. This antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection trigger ed a four- to fivefold increase in the release of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and a modest increase for IL-6 but not for an alternate cytokine, gra nulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The results suggest a potent ial role for mast cells/basophils in the pathogenesis of dengue virus-induc ed disease.