MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta induction by dengue virus

Dengue virus (DV) infection can result in either a mild febrile illness kno wn as dengue fever (DF) or a life-threatening disease called dengue hemorrh agic fever (DHF). DHF is more prevalent in patients undergoing secondary DV infection. This observation has led to the hypothesis that DHF may be the result of immune reactions to the secondary DV infection; an event termed i mmunopathology. Two cellular factors, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta, have been found to be induced by infection with DV. MIP-1 induction by DV infection was observed in a myelomonocytic cell line, as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a dengue naive donor. MIP-1 induction was n ot due to factors secreted by infected cells. In fact, replication-competen t virus was required to induce MIP-1. Evidence is also provided that MIP-1 genes are expressed in patients with dengue disease. It is hypothesized tha t these chemokines may have roles in the immunopathology of dengue infectio ns and may contribute to fever and bone marrow suppression observed in pati ents with DV infections. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.