Association of rs1285933 single nucleotide polymorphism in CLEC5A gene with dengue severity and its functional effects.

Outbreaks of the Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses, especially in the Americas, pose a global threat due to their rapid spread and difficulty controlling the vector. Extreme phenotypes are often observed, from asymptomatic to severe clinical manifestations, which are well-studied in dengue. Host variations are also important contributors to disease outcomes, and many case-control studies have associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with severe dengue. Here, we found that the TC genotype and T-carriers for SNP rs1285933 in the C-type lectin superfamily member 5 (CLEC5A) gene was associated with severe dengue in a Northern Brazilian population (OR=2.75 and p-value=0.01, OR=2.11 and p-value=0.04, respectively). We also tested the functional effect of the CLEC5A protein and found that it is upregulated on the surface of human monocytes after in vitro dengue infection. CLEC5A was correlated with viral load inside the monocytes (Spearman r=0.55, p=0.008) and TNF production in culture supernatants (Spearman r=0.72, p=0.03). Analysis of mRNA in blood samples from DENV4-infected patients exhibiting mild symptoms showed that CLEC5A mRNA expression is correlated with TNF (r=0.67, p=0.0001) and other immune mediators. Monocytes from rs1285933 TT/TC individuals showed lower CLEC5A expression compared to CC genotypes. However, in these cells, CLEC5A was not correlated with TNF production. In summary, we confirmed that CLEC5A is genetically associated with dengue severity outcome, playing a central role during the immune response triggered by a dengue viral infection, and rs1285933 is a relevant SNP that is able to regulate signaling pathways after interactions between the dengue virus and CLEC5A receptors.

Decrease in Dengue virus-2 infection and reduction of cytokine/chemokine production by Uncaria guianensis in human hepatocyte cell line Huh-7.

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever may present hemorrhages and cavitary effusions as result of exacerbated immune responses. We investigated hydro-alcoholic extracts from leaves (UGL) and bark (UGB) of the medicinal species Uncaria guinanensis with respect to antiviral effects in Dengue virus (DENV) infection and in immunological parameters associated with in vivo physiopathological features. METHODS: Chemical profiles from UGB or UGL were compared in thin layer chromatography and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance using flavonoid compounds and a pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid-enriched fraction as references. DENV-2-infected hepatocytes (Huh-7) were treated with extracts. Cell viability, DENV antigens and immunological factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or flow cytometry. FINDINGS: The UGL mainly differed from UGB by selectively containing the flavonoid kaempferitrin. UGB and UGL improved hepatocyte viability. Both extracts reduced intracellular viral antigen and inhibited the secretion of viral non-structural protein (NS1), which is indicative of viral replication. Reduction in secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor was achieved by UGB, of interleukin-6 by UGL, and of interleukin-8 by both UGB and UGL. MAIN. CONCLUSIONS: The U. guianensis extracts presented, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects for DENV and possibly a hepatocyte-protective activity. Further studies may be performed to consider these products as potential candidates for the development of an herbal product for the future treatment of dengue.

Decrease in Dengue virus-2 infection and reduction of cytokine/chemokine production by Uncaria guianensis in human hepatocyte cell line Huh-7

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Dengue fever may present hemorrhages and cavitary effusions as result of exacerbated immune responses. We investigated hydro-alcoholic extracts from leaves (UGL) and bark (UGB) of the medicinal species Uncaria guinanensis with respect to antiviral effects in Dengue virus (DENV) infection and in immunological parameters associated with in vivo physiopathological features. METHODS Chemical profiles from UGB or UGL were compared in thin layer chromatography and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance using flavonoid compounds and a pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid-enriched fraction as references. DENV-2-infected hepatocytes (Huh-7) were treated with extracts. Cell viability, DENV antigens and immunological factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or flow cytometry. FINDINGS The UGL mainly differed from UGB by selectively containing the flavonoid kaempferitrin. UGB and UGL improved hepatocyte viability. Both extracts reduced intracellular viral antigen and inhibited the secretion of viral non-structural protein (NS1), which is indicative of viral replication. Reduction in secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor was achieved by UGB, of interleukin-6 by UGL, and of interleukin-8 by both UGB and UGL. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The U. guianensis extracts presented, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects for DENV and possibly a hepatocyte-protective activity. Further studies may be performed to consider these products as potential candidates for the development of an herbal product for the future treatment of dengue.

Characterization of clinical and immunological features in patients coinfected with dengue virus and HIV.

The pathogenesis of dengue in subjects coinfected with HIV remains largely unknown. We investigate clinical and immunological parameters in coinfected DENV/HIV patients. According to the new dengue classification, most coinfected DENV/HIV patients presented mild clinical manifestations of dengue infection. Herein, we show that DENV/HIV coinfected patients had higher CD8 T cells percentages reflected as a lower CD4/CD8 ratio. Furthermore, CCR5 expression on CD4 T cells and CD107a expression on both T subsets were significantly higher in coinfected patients when compared with monoinfected DENV and HIV individuals respectively. Increased inflammatory response was observed in treated HAART coinfected patients despite undetectable HIV load. These data indicate that DENV infection may influence the clinical profile and immune response in individuals concomitantly infected with HIV.

Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Effects of Norantea brasiliensis Choisy on Dengue Virus-2.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe dengue fever is a result of exacerbated immune responses and no specific treatments are available. We evaluated the antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of Norantea brasiliensis Choisy. METHODS: Human adherent monocytes infected in vitro with dengue virus (DENV)-2 were incubated with the crude ethanol extract from leaves (NB1) or 3 derived fractions: dichloromethane (NB3), ethyl acetate (NB5), and butanolic (NB6) partitions. The antiviral and immunomodulatory activities were determined by intracellular detection of DENV antigen within monocytes and by secreted NS1 viral protein and cytokines. RESULTS: The crude extract alone exhibited both antiviral activities (intracellular and secreted antigens) and all fractions derived from this extract modulated NS1 production. Regarding the immunomodulatory effect, among the secreted factors, TNF-α was inhibited by NB3 and NB6; IL-6 was inhibited by NB1, NB3, and NB6; IL-10 by NB1 and NB3; and IFN-α by NB6. The crude extract (NB1) presented the best antiviral effect, whereas the dichloromethane fraction (NB3) presented an immunomodulatory effect in the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION: During in vitro DENV infection, N. brasiliensis Choisy exerts both antiviral and immunomodulatory effects that are likely associated, considering that less viral load may lead to less immunostimulation.

Caracterização dos efeitos imunomodulador e antiviral de uma espécie da família marcgraviaceae em modelo in vitro de infecção em linhagem de hepatócitos HUH-7 pelo vírus dengue-2 / Characterization of antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of a species of the family marcgraviaceae in vitro model of infection of hepatocytes line HUH-7 dengue-2 virus

Várias doenças relacionadas à desregulação do sistema imunológico têm sido, há muito tempo, tratadas com a medicina fitoterápica, considerando que vários efeitos terapêuticos podem ser induzidos pela modulação de citocinas. Entretanto, não são encontrados relatos científicos do uso de plantas medicinais na dengue. A identificação de compostos com propriedades imunomoduladoras é extremamente importante para o tratamento da dengue, uma vez quea gravidade da doença está relacionada a uma produção exacerbada da resposta imunológica, principalmente, de citocinas que podem levar à distúrbios hemodinâmicos e de coagulação. A família Marcgraviaceae, pertencente à flora brasileira, tem sido avaliada quanto às suas atividades biodinâmicas, devido ao seu quase completo ineditismo químico e farmacológico. A atividade anti-inflamatória dessa família tem sido descrita por alguns autores. Assim sendo, o objetivo principal do trabalho foi caracterizar os potenciais antivirais e imunomoduladores de uma espécie de Marcgraviaceae. Foi estabelecido e utilizado um modelo in vitrocultivando uma linhagem de hepatócitos – as células HuH-7- que foram infectadas com DENV-2. As células HuH-7 infectadas foram incubadas, por 48 horas, com uma fração butanólica e 4 subfrações (26-30, 40-43, 89-98 e 99-134) derivadas de um extrato bruto etanólico de folhas de uma espécie de Marcgraviaceae. As amostras passaram por uma triagem, a qual identificou a atividade antiviral das mesmas, através da detecção do antígeno viral (DENV Ag) nas células HuH-7, pela citometria de fluxo e a atividade imunomoduladora, através da dosagem de MIF, por ELISA, no sobrenadante das culturas infectadas e tratadas. Os resultados da triagem indicaram que a fração butanólica e sua subfração 89-98 apresentaram ambasas atividades, sendo selecionadas para os demais estudos de caracterização dos mecanismos de ação. Após a seleção, a atividade antiviral destas frações/subfrações foram avaliadas quanto à produção de óxido nítrico (NO), através dareação de Griess, e detecção da proteína viral NS1, através de ELISA. A ação imunomoduladora foi avaliada através da dosagem de IL-8 também por ELISA. Nossosresultados demonstraram que a fração butanólica e sua subfração 89-98, foram capazes de reduzir a taxa de produção de NS1, além de estimular a produção de NOpelas células HuH-7.Além disso, a subfração 89-98 também reduziu a produção de IL-8. Em conclusão, acreditamos que estas frações/subfrações sejam boascandidatas para o desenvolvimento de fitoterápicos a serem usados no tratamento da dengue. Considerando que o organismo é capaz de controlar ainfecção por DENV em poucos dias e que as reações imunológicas possuem um papel importante na patogênese da dengue, o estudo de fatores imunomoduladores é uma abordagem de investigação inovadora e relevante.