Cytotoxic factor-autoantibodies: possible role in the pathogenesis of dengue haemorrhagic fever

Chaturvedi, U. C. ; Elbishbishi, E. A. ; Agarwal, R. ; Mustafa, A. S. (2001) Cytotoxic factor-autoantibodies: possible role in the pathogenesis of dengue haemorrhagic fever FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, 30 (3). pp. 181-186. ISSN 0928-8244

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Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2001.tb01568.x

Abstract

During dengue virus infection a unique cytokine, cytotoxic factor (hCF), is produced that is pathogenesis-related and plays a key role in the development of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). However, what regulates the adverse effects of hCF is not known. We have previously shown that anti-hCF antibodies raised in mice, neutralise the pathogenic effects of hCF. In this study we have investigated the presence and levels of hCF-autoantibodies in sera of patients with various severity of dengue illness (n=136) and normal healthy controls (n=50). The highest levels of hCF-autoantibodies (mean± S.D.=36± 20 U ml-1) were seen in patients with mild illness, the dengue fever (DF), and 48 out of 50 (96%) of the sera were positive. On the other hand the hCF-autoantibody levels declined sharply with the development of DHF and the levels were lowest in patients with DHF grade IV (mean ± S.D.=5± 2 U ml-1; P=<0.001 as compared to DF). Only one of the 13 DHF grade IV patients had an antibody level above the 'cut-off' value (mean plus 3 S.D. of the control sera). The analysis of data with respect to different days of illness further showed that the highest levels of hCF-autoantibodies were present in DF patients at >9 days of illness. Moreover, the DF patients at all time points, i.e. 1-4, 5-8 and >9 days of illness had significantly higher levels of hCF-autoantibodies (P<0.001) than patients with DHF grade I, II, III and IV. In addition DHF grade I and grade II patients had significantly more positive specimens than DHF grade III and grade IV patients at all time points. These results suggest that elevated levels of hCF-autoantibodies protect the patients against the development of severe forms of DHF and, therefore, it may be useful as a prognostic indicator.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Federation of European Microbiological Societies.
Keywords:Cytokine; Cytotoxic Factor; Dengue; Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever; Pathogenesis; Autoantibody
ID Code:6722
Deposited On:22 Oct 2010 06:14
Last Modified:16 May 2016 17:01

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