Abrogation of helper T cells by dengue virus-induced cytotoxic factor

Abstract

The mechanism of depletion of helper T cells (Th) in dengue-type 2 virus (DV)-infected mice is studied. The treatment of DV-induced Th in vitro with a DV-induced cytotoxic protein (CF) abrogates helper activity for the DV-specific direct antibody forming cell (PFC) response. Pretreatment of mice with CF abolishes generation of Th and post-treatment of mice removes Th activity from the spleen cells. Thus DV-induced CF removes helper T cell activity and may also contribute to immunosuppression in other viral inflections.