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

• Published in: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 2001-04, Vol.30 (3), p.181-186
• Main Authors: Chaturvedi, U.C., Elbishbishi, E.A., Agarwal, R., Mustafa, A.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Arboviroses; Autoantibodies; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibody; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokine; Cytokines - immunology; Cytotoxic factor; Cytotoxicity; Dengue; Dengue fever; Dengue fevers; Dengue haemorrhagic fever; Dengue virus; Dengue Virus - immunology; Disease control; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Levels; Medical sciences; Pathogenesis; Prognosis; Severe Dengue - blood; Severe Dengue - virology; Tropical viral diseases; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 0928-8244; 1574-695X; 2049-632X
• DOI: 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=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