American Journal of
fectious Diseases 4 (1): 1-9, 2008
Immunopathogenesis of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
‘Huan-Yao Lei,'Kao-Jean Huang, 'Yee-Shin Lin, "Trai-Ming Yeh,'Hsiao-Sheng Liu and ‘Ching-Chuan Liu
Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, “Medical Technology and ‘Pediatrics,
College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Abstracts Dengue virus infection causes Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and
Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) whose pathogeneses were not clearly understood. A new hypothesis of
immunopathogenesis is proposed for the development of the DHE/DSS. An aberrant immune over-
activation afier dengue virus infection not only impair the immune response to clear the virus, but also
result in overproduction of cytokines that affeet monocytes, endothelial cells, and hepatocytes, as well
as the abnormal production of autoantibodies to platelet and endothelial cells. A molecular mimicry
‘occurs between plateletsendothelial cells and dengue virus antigens, Platelets and endothelial cells are
bound by the cross-reactive anti-dengue virus antibodies such as anti-NSI or anti-prM antibodies. The
TFN-y activated macrophage would phagocytosize the osponized targets. Dengue virus-induced
vasculopathy and coagulopathy are involved in the pathogenesis of hemorthage, and the unbalance
between coagulation and fibrinolysis activation inereases the likelihood of severe hemorrhage in
This theory of transient hemophagocytic activity in immunopathogenesis of DHE/DS
account for specific characteristics of elinical, pathologic, and epidemiological observations in dengue
virus infection,
Key words: Dengue virus, ADE, autoantibody, macrophage
symptoms, sometime is fatal"). The pathogenesis,
especially the mechanistic steps toward the
Dengue fever is an acute infectious disease caused
by four serotypes of dengue virus. It is characterized by
biphasic fever, myalgia, headache, pain in various parts
DF is self-limited, but, it will progress to Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome
(DSS) in certain conditions. DHF is a severe febrile
disease characterized by abnormalities of hemostasis
and increased vascular permeability, and severe
progression may result in DSS. DSS is a form of
hhypovolemic shock that is associated clinically with
emoconcentration and which might lead to death if
appropriate care is not given, Alter dengue virus
infection, there is a continuum from mild DF to severe
DIF or DSS. Tt has been estimated that only 4-6% of
individuals with secondary infection develop severe
DHF disease". Dengue virus can infect infant,
children and adult. Tn endemic area such as
southeastern Asia or Latin American, most of the
DHF/DSS are children while some are infants
However, in non-endemic area like Taiwan, the
majority of the DHE/DSS case is adult or the ekder. The
dengue-infected elder will have more severe clinical
‘manifestation of DHF/DSS, involved in this process is
rnot clearly understood, “Any explanation of the
DHF/DSS pathogenesis must account for specific
characteristics of clinical, pathologic, and
epidemiological observations that are unique in dengue
vieus induced disease,
the pathogenesis of dengue
everal hypotheses for the
pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever have been
proposed. Among them, — Antibody-Dependent
Enhancement (ADE) of infection has Tong been thought
to play a central role”, The ADE hypothesis. was
formulated to explain the finding that severe
manifestations of DHF/DSS occur in children’
experiencing a second dengue virus infection that has a
different serotype from previous one. There are indeed
preexisting antibodies to previous dengue virus that
cannot neutralize but rather enhance infection in
vino. Sera obtained before infection from children who
later developed DHF/DSS were much more likely t0
demonstrate ADE in vitro than those who had only
DE", Newborn babies less than I year old who acquire
‘Corresponding Author: Dr. Huan-Yao Lei, Depariment of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Melcin,
‘National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China
1Am. J Infect. Dis, 4 (1): 1-9, 2008
maternal anti