Suppressed humoral immunity is associated with dengue nonstructural protein NS1-elicited anti-death receptor antibody fractions in mice

Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 14;10(1):6294. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62958-0.

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) infections may cause life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Suppressed protective immunity was shown in these patients. Although several hypotheses have been formulated, the mechanism of DENV-induced immunosuppression remains unclear. Previously, we found that cross-reactive antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor 1 (death receptor 4 [DR4]) were elicited in DHF patients, and that anti-DR4 autoantibody fractions were elicited by nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) immunizations in experimental mice. In this study, we found that anti-DR4 antibodies could suppress B lymphocyte function in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with the anti-DR4 immunoglobulin (Ig) induced caspase-dependent cell death in immortalized B lymphocyte Raji cells in vitro. Anti-DR4 Igs elicited by NS1 and DR4 immunizations markedly suppressed mouse spleen transitional T2 B (IgM+IgD+), bone marrow pre-pro-B (B220+CD43+), pre-B (B220+CD43-), and mature B cell (B220+IgD+) subsets in mice. Furthermore, functional analysis revealed that the pre-elicitation of anti-NS1 and anti-DR4 Ig titers suppressed subsequently neutralizing antibody production by immunization with DENV envelop protein. Our data suggest that the elicitation of anti-DR4 titers through DENV NS1 immunization plays a suppressive role in humoral immunity in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral*
  • Immunization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / immunology*
  • Severe Dengue / immunology*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Autoantibodies
  • NS1 protein, Dengue virus type 2
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins