Fernando Medina

Heat Shock Protein 90 and Heat Shock Protein 70 Are Components of Dengue Virus Receptor Complex in Human Cells

ABSTRACT Dengue virus requires the presence of an unidentified cellular receptor on the surface of the host cell. By using a recently published affinity chromatography approach, an 84-kDa molecule, identified as heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, was isolated from neuroblastoma and U937 cells. Based on the ability of HSP90 (84 kDa) to interact with HSP70 (74 kDa) on the surface of monocytes during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling and evidence that LPS inhibits dengue virus infection, the presence of HSP70 was demonstrated in affinity chromatography eluates and by pull-down experiments. Infection inhibition assays support the conclusion that HSP90 and HSP70 participate in dengue virus entry as a receptor complex in human cell lines as well as in monocytes/macrophages. Additionally, our results indicate that both HSPs are associated with membrane microdomains (lipid rafts) in response to dengue virus infection. Moreover, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, a raft-disrupting drug, inhibits dengue virus infection, supporting the idea that cholesterol-rich membrane fractions are important in dengue virus entry.

Cellular Proteins from Human Monocytes Bind to Dengue 4 Virus Minus-Strand 3′ Untranslated Region RNA

ABSTRACT The synthesis of plus and minus RNA strands of several RNA viruses requires as a first step the interaction of some viral regulatory sequences with cellular and viral proteins. The dengue 4 virus genome, a single-stranded, positive-polarity RNA, is flanked by two untranslated regions (UTR) located in the 5′ and 3′ ends. The 3′UTR in the minus-strand RNA [3′UTR (−)] has been thought to function as a promoter for the synthesis of plus-strand RNA. To study the initial interaction between this 3′UTR and cellular and viral proteins, mobility shift assays were performed, and four ribonucleoprotein complexes (I through IV) were formed when uninfected and infected U937 cells (human monocyte cell line) interacted with the 3′UTR (−) of dengue 4 virus. Cross-linking assays with RNAs containing the complete 3′UTR (−) (nucleotides [nt] 101 to 1) or a partial sequence from nt 101 to 45 and nt 44 to 1 resulted in specific binding of some cellular proteins. Supermobility shift and immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the La protein forms part of these complexes. To determine the region in the 3′ UTR that interacted with the La protein, two deletion mutants were generated. The mutant (del-96), with a deletion of nt 96 to 101, was unable to interact with the La protein, suggesting that La interacted with the 5′ portion of the 3′UTR (−). Complex I, which was the main ribonucleoprotein complex formed with the 3′UTR (−) and which had the fastest electrophoretic migration, contained proteins such as calreticulin and protein disulfide isomerase, which constitute important components of the endoplasmic reticulum.

JNK phosphorylation, induced during dengue virus infection, is important for viral infection and requires the presence of cholesterol.

Infection with a broad diversity of viruses often activates host cell signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The present study established that dengue virus infection of human macrophages activates Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and the p38 MAPKs pathways. The activation was observed at early times after infection and occurs when either infectious or UV-inactivated dengue virus was used. The role of these activated kinases in dengue virus infection was evaluated using specific inhibitors. Inhibition of JNK and p38 kinases did result in a significant reduction in viral protein synthesis and in viral yield. Additionally, lipid rafts disruption induced a strong inhibition of JNK activation. These results suggest that, at early stages after dengue virus infection, MAPKs are activated and that activation of JNK and p38 is required for dengue virus infection.

The increase in cholesterol levels at early stages after dengue virus infection correlates with an augment in LDL particle uptake and HMG-CoA reductase activity

Several cellular molecules and components, specifically, cholesterol and lipid rafts have been described as necessary elements for dengue virus entry and signaling in several human cells. Thus, changes in lipid rafts formation and cholesterol levels were evaluated. Here we report that the amount of total cholesterol and lipid rafts formation increase early after infection of Huh-7 cells. This augment correlates with an increase in the amount of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) on the surface of infected cells and also with a lower phosphorylation level of the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). None of the changes were observed in Huh 7 cells infected with VSV used as a control. These results suggest that dengue virus infection increases intracellular cholesterol levels at early times post infection by triggering the modulation of LDL particles uptake and the increase in the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase.

Antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection in U937 cells requires cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains.

Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of dengue fever and the more severe forms of the infection known as dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). Secondary infections with a serotype different from the primary infection are considered a risk factor for the development of DHF/DSS. One explanation for the increased risk of DHF/DSS development after heterologous secondary infections is the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) hypothesis. This hypothesis postulates that pre-existing non-neutralizing antibodies will form immune complexes with the new serotype-infecting virus that in turn will have enhanced capacity to infect macrophages and other Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR)-bearing cells. Despite the evidence supporting the ADE hypothesis, the molecular mechanisms of ADE are not fully understood. In this work, we present evidence which indicates that intact lipid rafts are required for the ADE infection of U937 cells with DENV. Flow cytometry analysis to measure the percentage of infected cells showed that treatment of differentiated U937 cells with nystatin (30 microg ml(-1)), filipin (10 microg ml(-1)) or beta-methyl cyclodextrin (30 mM) significantly reduces (P<0.05) the ADE of DENV-4 infection in vitro without any effect on viability or the number of FcgammaR-bearing cells. Later cholesterol replenishment by supplementing treated cell cultures with bovine fetal serum for 24 h re-established lipid raft integrity and reversed the alteration of the ADE in vitro (P<0.05). Our results suggest that ADE of U937 infection by DENV requires the presence of cholesterol and cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains.

Heat shock effect upon dengue virus replication into U937 cells

The molecules involved in dengue virus entry into human cells are currently unknown. We have previously shown that two surface heat shock proteins (Hsps), Hsp90 and Hsp70 are part of a receptor complex in monocytic cells. In the present report, the effect of heat shock (HS) on dengue virus infection is analyzed. We have documented a more than twofold increase in dengue virus infectivity after HS treatment in monocytic cells U937; this effect correlates mainly with an increase in viral entry due to a major presence of both Hsps on the surface of monocytic cells, particularly in membrane microdomains. Interestingly, since heat shock treatment at 6h post-infection also increased viral yields, it is likely that HS also modulates positively dengue virus replication.

The Cytokine Response of U937-Derived Macrophages Infected through Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus Disrupts Cell Apical-Junction Complexes and Increases Vascular Permeability

ABSTRACT Severe dengue (SD) is a life-threatening complication of dengue that includes vascular permeability syndrome (VPS) and respiratory distress. Secondary infections are considered a risk factor for developing SD, presumably through a mechanism called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Despite extensive studies, the molecular bases of how ADE contributes to SD and VPS are largely unknown. This work compares the cytokine responses of differentiated U937 human monocytic cells infected directly with dengue virus (DENV) or in the presence of enhancing concentrations of a humanized monoclonal antibody recognizing protein E (ADE-DENV infection). Using a cytometric bead assay, ADE-DENV-infected cells were found to produce significantly higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-12p70, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), than cells directly infected. The capacity of conditioned supernatants (conditioned medium [CM]) to disrupt tight junctions (TJs) in MDCK cell cultures was evaluated. Exposure of MDCK cell monolayers to CM collected from ADE-DENV-infected cells (ADE-CM) but not from cells infected directly led to a rapid loss of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and to delocalization and degradation of apical-junction complex proteins. Depletion of either TNF-α, IL-6, or IL-12p70 from CM from ADE-DENV-infected cells fully reverted the disrupting effect on TJs. Remarkably, mice injected intraperitoneally with ADE-CM showed increased vascular permeability in sera and lungs, as indicated by an Evans blue quantification assay. These results indicate that the cytokine response of U937-derived macrophages to ADE-DENV infection shows an increased capacity to disturb TJs, while results obtained with the mouse model suggest that such a response may be related to the vascular plasma leakage characteristic of SD.

The dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted efficiently from infected mosquito cells.

Dengue virus NS1 is a glycoprotein of 46-50kDa which associates as a dimer to internal and cytoplasmic membranes and is also secreted, as a hexamer, to the extracellular milieu. However, the notion exist that NS1 is secreted only from infected vertebrate and not mosquito cells. In this work, evidence is presented showing that NS1 is secreted efficiently by infected mosquito cells. NS1 was detected in cell supernatants starting at 6hpi with a continuous concentration increase up to 24hpi. Nevertheless, cell viability showed an average cell survival of 97%. At variance with observations with vertebrate cells, NS1 does not seems to associate with the cytoplasmic membrane of insect cells. Finally, evidence is presented indicating that NS1 is secreted from insect cells as a barrel-shaped hexamer. These findings provide new insights into the biology of NS1 and open questions about the role of secreted NS1 in the vector mosquito.

The dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted from infected mosquito cells via a non-classical caveolin-1-dependent pathway

Dengue virus NS1 is a glycoprotein of 46-50 kDa that is conserved among flaviviruses, associates as a dimer to cell membranes and is secreted as a hexamer to the extracellular milieu. Recent evidence showed that NS1 is secreted efficiently from infected mosquito cells. To explore the secretory route of NS1 in mosquito cells, infected cells were treated with brefeldin A (BFA) and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD). The results showed that MβCD, but not BFA, significantly reduced the release of NS1. Moreover, silencing the expression of caveolin-1 (CAV1; a key component of the caveolar system that transports cholesterol inside the cell), but not SAR1 (a GTPase that participates in the classical secretory pathway), also results in a significant reduction of the secretion of NS1. These results indicate that NS1 is released from mosquito cells via an unconventional secretory route that bypasses the Golgi complex, with the participation of CAV1. In agreement with this notion, differences were observed in the glycosylation status between secreted NS1 and E proteins. Classical mechanics and docking simulations suggested highly favoured interactions between the caveolin-binding domain present in NS1 and the scaffolding domain of CAV1. Finally, proximity ligation assays showed direct interaction between NS1 and CAV1 in infected mosquito cells. These findings are in line with the lipoprotein nature of secreted NS1 and provide new insights into the biology of NS1.