Men-Fang Shaio

Infection of Human Dendritic Cells by Dengue Virus Causes Cell Maturation and Cytokine Production

Dengue virus (DV) infection is a major problem in public health. It can cause fatal diseases such as Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome. Dendritic cells (DC) are professional APCs required for establishing a primary immune response. Here, we investigated the role of human PBMC-derived DC in DV infection. Using different techniques, including plaque assay, flow cytometry analysis, nested RT-PCR, and confocal microscope and electron microscope examinations, we show that DV can enter cultured human DC and produce virus particles. After entrance, DV could be visualized in cystic vesicles, vacuoles, and the endoplasmic reticulum. The DV-infected DC also showed proliferation and hypertrophy of the endoplasmic reticulum as well as the swollen mitochondria. In addition, the DV-stimulated DC could express maturation markers such as B7-1, B7-2, HLA-DR, CD11b, and CD83. Furthermore, the infection of DC by DV induced production of TNF-α and IFN-α, but not IL-6 and IL-12. Although DC underwent spontaneous apoptosis in the absence of feeding cytokines, this process appeared to be delayed after DV infection. Our observations provide important information in understanding the pathogenesis of DV infection.

Potential Dengue Virus-Triggered Apoptotic Pathway in Human Neuroblastoma Cells: Arachidonic Acid, Superoxide Anion, and NF-κB Are Sequentially Involved

ABSTRACT Direct in vivo evidence for the susceptibility of human neuronal cells to dengue virus has not been reported. In this study, we demonstrated that type 2 dengue (DEN-2) virus infection induced extensive apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was activated by DEN-2 infection, which led to the generation of arachidonic acid (AA). Inhibition of PLA2 activity by the PLA2inhibitors, AACOCF3 and ONO-RS-082, diminished DEN-2 virus-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the cyclooxygenase inhibitors aspirin and indomethacin, thought to increase AA accumulation by blocking AA catabolism, enhanced apoptosis. Exogenous AA induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Superoxide anion, which is thought to be generated through the AA-activated NADPH oxidase, was increased after infection. Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase (SOD) protected cells against DEN-2 virus-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, generation of superoxide anion was blocked by AACOCF3. In addition, the transcription factors, NF-κB and c-Jun, were found to be activated after DEN-2 virus infection. However, pretreatment of cells with oligodeoxynucleotides containing NF-κB, but not c-Jun, binding sites (transcription factor decoy) strongly prevented dengue virus-induced apoptosis. The finding that AACOCF3 and SOD significantly block activation of NF-κB suggests that this activation is derived from the AA-superoxide anion pathway. Our results indicate that DEN-2 virus infection of human neuroblastoma cells triggers an apoptotic pathway through PLA2 activation to superoxide anion generation and subsequently to NF-κB activation. This apoptotic effect can be either directly derived from the action of AA and superoxide anion on mitochondria or indirectly derived from the products of apoptosis-related genes activated by NF-κB.

Evaluation of protective efficacy and immune mechanisms of using a non-structural protein NS1 in DNA vaccine against dengue 2 virus in mice.

To evaluate the potential of DNA vaccine against dengue (DEN) infection, we characterize the protective efficacy and immune responses of mice intramuscularly injected with plasmid encoding DEN-2 non-structural protein 1 (NS1). Intravenously challenged by lethal DEN-2, mice vaccinated with NS1-DNA exhibited a delay onset of paralysis, a marked decrease of morbidity, and a significant enhancement of survival. In addition to a moderate increase of NS1-specific antibody titer from immunized mice measured by ELISA, a strong priming effect on anti-NS1 response was also noticed in plasmid NS1-vaccinated mice by radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) or immunoblot analysis. Interestingly, newborn mice from NS1-DNA-immunized dam showed stronger resistance to viral challenge, as compared to those from vector DNA or PBS-immunized dams, indicating the protective role of NS1-specific antibody. In contrast to humoral immune response, DNA immunization can elicit strong cellular immune responses, including NS1-specific T cell proliferation and cytolytic activity. The NS1-DNA-induced protection can be further augmented by co-injection of plasmid encoding interleukin 12 (IL-12), suggesting an effector role of Th1 immunity against DEN infection. In summary, our results suggest the potential of NS1-DNA vaccine against DEN infection, and indicate both NS1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses contribute to the protection.

Decreased cell-mediated immunity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) show reduced proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and other mitogens. This study was undertaken to determine whether this reduced lymphocyte proliferation is mediated by a decreased production of cytokine or decreased expression of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). Mononuclear cells from NIDDM patients (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 22) were cultured in RPMI-1640 media containing PHA, concanavalin-A and phorbol myristate acetate. NIDDM patients showed reduced [3H]thymidine uptake (57% of controls, P < 0.01), reduced percentage of IL-2R-positive cells (61% of controls, P < 0.02) and increased level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (200% of controls, P < 0.05). The percentage of complement receptor (CR) 3-positive monocytes from NIDDM patients was also decreased (72% of controls, P < 0.05). However, the production of IL-1 beta, IL-2 and interferon-gamma, the percentages of pan T cells (CD3), T helper cells (CD4), T suppressor cells (CD8), the ratio of CD4/CD8 and the expression of CR1 and Fc receptors for immunoglobulin G (Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII) were not significantly different between NIDDM patients and healthy subjects. Human recombinant IL-2 was unable to restore the [3H]thymidine uptake by PHA-stimulated mononuclear cells from NIDDM patients. Elevation of glucose concentration up to 27.8 mmol/l in the culture medium did not suppress the [3H]thymidine uptake and IL-2R expression by activated lymphocytes from healthy subjects. The decreased expression of IL-2R on activated lymphocytes might be responsible for the insufficient lymphocyte proliferation in NIDDM patients. These findings suggest that decreased expression of CR3 on monocytes, decreased lymphocyte proliferation and decreased IL-2R expression despite a higher production of TNF-alpha may explain the impaired cell-mediated immunity seen in NIDDM patients.

Lymphocyte proliferation modulated by glutamine: involved in the endogenous redox reaction

Decreased glutamine concentrations are found during catabolic stress and are related to susceptibility to infections. However, little is known about the mechanism of glutamine modulation of lymphocyte functions. Glutamine is not only an important energy source in mitochondria, but is also a precursor of glutamate, which is used for cellular glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis in lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of glutamine on the redox reaction during lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained from healthy adult volunteers, were cultured and stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of different glutamine concentrations. Cells were harvested and prepared for analysis of lymphocyte proliferation, cell cycle propagation, intracellular glutathione levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We found that glutamine supplementation significantly enhanced PHA‐stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and propagation of the cell cycle from the G1 to S and G2/M phases. Glutamine also enhanced production of both intracellular ROS and GSH levels in PHA‐stimulated lymphocytes. Flow cytometric analysis by the mercury orange staining method showed that glutamine significantly enhanced intracellular non‐protein thiols in PHA‐stimulated CD4+, but not CD8+ lymphocyte subsets. Furthermore, intracellular GSH detected by monochlorobimane dye probe showed that glutamine enhanced GSH both in PHA‐stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets. Inadequate glutamine supplementation resulted in decreased lymphocyte proliferation in association with decreased levels of intracellular GSH. Addition of exogenous GSH significantly enhanced lymphocyte proliferation, whereas blockade of GSH synthesis enhanced ROS production and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation. These results suggest that the modulation of PHA‐stimulated lymphocyte proliferation by glutamine is closely related to the maintenance of appropriate intracellular redox status.

Comparison of PCR–RFLP, ribotyping and ERIC–PCR for typing Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus strains

PCR–RFLP analysis of the vrrA gene and cerAB gene was used to investigate the genomic diversity in 21 strains of Bacillus anthracis and 28 strains of Bacillus cereus, and was compared with results obtained by ribotyping and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus–PCR (ERIC–PCR) analysis. VrrA‐typing divided the B. anthracis into four groups. Except for one Pasteur vaccine strain, the vrrA PCR–RFLP profiles of the B. anthracis were separated into three groups, which were different from those of the B. cereus strains. Ribotyping separated the B. anthracis isolates into seven ribotypes, and a common fragment of an approximately 850 bp band from the ERIC–PCR fingerprints separated most B. anthracis strains into two groups. VrrA/cerAB PCR–RFLP, ribotyping and ERIC–PCR generated 18, 22 and 23 types, respectively, from B. cereus strains. The results suggest that a combination of all three methods provides a high resolution typing method for B. anthracis and B. cereus. Compared with ribotyping and ERIC–PCR, PCR–RFLP is simple to perform and has potential as a rapid method for typing and discriminating B. anthracis strains from other B. cereus group bacteria.

Identification of B-Cell Epitope of Dengue Virus Type 1 and Its Application in Diagnosis of Patients

ABSTRACT Using a serotype-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) of dengue virus type 1 (DEN-1), 15F3-1, we identified the B-cell epitope of DEN-1 from a random peptide library displayed on phage. Fourteen immunopositive phage clones that bound specifically to MAb 15F3-1 were selected. These phage-borne peptides had a consensus motif of HxYaWb (a = S/T, b = K/H/R) that mimicked the sequence HKYSWK, which corresponded to amino acid residues 111 to 116 of the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of DEN-1. Among the four synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acid residues 110 to 117 of the NS1 of DEN-1, -2, -3, and -4, only one peptide, EHKYSWKS (P14M) of DEN-1, was found to bind to 15F3-1 specifically. Furthermore, P14M was shown to inhibit the binding of phage particles to 15F3-1 in a competitive inhibition assay. Histidine111 (His111) was crucial to the binding of P14M to 15F3-1, since its binding activity dramatically reduced when it changed to leucine111 (Leu111). This epitope-based peptide demonstrated its clinical diagnostic potential when it reacted with a high degree of specificity with serum samples obtained from both DEN-1-infected rabbits and patients. Based on these observations, our DEN-1 epitope-based serologic test could be useful in laboratory viral diagnosis and in understanding the pathogenesis of DEN-1.

Western and Chinese Antirheumatic Drug-Induced T Cell Apoptotic DNA Damage Uses Different Caspase Cascades and Is Independent of Fas/Fas Ligand Interaction

Spontaneous or therapeutic induction of T cell apoptosis plays a critical role in establishing transplantation tolerance and maintaining remission of autoimmune diseases. We investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis induced by Chinese and Western antirheumatic drugs (ARDs) in human T cells. We found that hydroxychloroquine, Tripterygium wilfordii hook F, and tetrandrine (Tet), but not methotrexate, at therapeutic concentrations can cause T cell death. In addition, Tet selectively killed T cells, especially activated T cells. Although ARD-induced cytotoxicity was mediated through apoptotic mechanisms, Fas/Fas ligand interaction was not required. We further demonstrated that the processes of phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA damage along the ARD-induced T cell apoptotic pathway could operate independently, and that selective inhibition of DNA damage by caspase inhibitors did not prevent T cells from undergoing cell death. Moreover, we found that Tet- and Tripterygium wilfordii hook F-induced T cell DNA damage required caspase-3 activity, and hydroxychloroquine-induced T cell DNA damage was mediated through a caspase-3- and caspase-8-independent, but Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluomethyl ketone-sensitive, signaling pathway. Finally, the observation that ARD-induced activation of caspase-3 in both Fas-sensitive and Fas-resistant Jurkat T cells indicates that Fas/Fas ligand interaction plays no role in ARD-induced T cell apoptosis. Our observations provide new information about the complex apoptotic mechanisms of ARDs, and have implications for combining Western and Chinese ARDs that have different immunomodulatory mechanisms in the therapy of autoimmune diseases and transplantation rejection.

Antibody‐dependent enhancement of heterotypic dengue infections involved in suppression of IFNγ production

Antibody‐dependent enhancement has been implicated in some outbreaks of epidemic dengue hemorrhagic fever, however, the mechanism of antibody‐dependent enhancement is not well known. This study was conducted to investigate the cross‐protection and cross‐enhancement of dengue‐2 virus infections by dengue‐1 immune sera. It was found that dengue‐1 immune sera at 1:5 dilution (n = 12) could neutralize dengue‐2 infections in BHK‐21 cells, as assessed by a standard plaque‐reduction neutralization assay. Two‐thirds of the dengue‐1 immune sera at 1:25 dilution demonstrated neutralizing effects for dengue‐2 infections, whereas, non‐immune sera revealed no neutralization for dengue‐2 infections in BHK‐21 cells. Human mononuclear leukocytes in response to dengue‐2 infections elicited a T cell helper 1 (Th1) response revealing induction of IFNγ but not IL‐4 production. Dengue‐1 immune sera did not neutralize dengue‐2 infections in mononuclear leukocytes. Subneutralizing titers of dengue‐1 immune sera at 1:250, but not at 1:10 dilution, enhanced dengue‐2 infections in mononuclear leukocytes (1.2 ± 0.7 × 104 vs. 2.8 ± 0.3 × 102 PFU/ml). The enhancement of dengue‐2 infections in mononuclear leukocytes by dengue‐1 immune sera at 1:250 was associated with an increase in the lymphocyte proliferation index, and a decrease in IFNγ production (56 ± 24 vs. 12 ± 3 pg/ml). The addition of IFNγ (0.1 μg/ml) suppressed significantly the antibody‐dependent enhancement induced by dengue‐1 immune sera, whereas the presence of anti‐IFNγ F(ab)2 antibody augmented the antibody‐dependent enhancement effect. Results from this study suggest that suppression of Th1 response may be involved in the antibody‐dependent enhancement of heterotypic dengue infections. Better regulation of Th1/Th2 reactions may be useful for prevention of heterotypic immune enhancement of dengue infections. J. Med. Virol. 63:150–157, 2001.

Flow Cytometry Compared with Indirect Immunofluorescence for Rapid Detection of Dengue Virus Type 1 after Amplification in Tissue Culture

ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DV) was detected early in infected mosquito C6/36 cells by using indirect immunofluorescence (IF) in conjunction with flow cytometry. Three fixation-permeabilization methods and three DV serotype 1 (DEN-1)-specific monoclonal antibodies, 8-8 (anti-E), 16-4 (anti-NS1), and 15F3-1 (anti-NS1), were evaluated for the detection of DEN-1 in infected C6/36 cells. We found that these three monoclonal antibodies were capable of detecting DV in C6/36 cells as early as 24 h postinoculation by using a conventional indirect IF stain. Both 8-8 and 16-4 detected DV earlier and showed a greater number of DV-positive cells than 15F3-1. In flow cytometry, 3% paraformaldehyde plus 0.1% Triton X-100 with 16-4, the best fixation-permeabilization method for testing DV, showed higher sensitivity (up to 1 PFU) than indirect IF stain. The higher sensitivity of 16-4 in detecting DEN-1 was found with both IF and flow cytometry. Flow cytometry, which had a sensitivity similar to that of nested reverse transcription-PCR, was more sensitive in detecting DV in the infected mosquito cells 10 h earlier than the conventional IF stain. When clinical specimens were amplified in mosquito C6/36 cells and then assayed for DV using flow cytometry and conventional virus isolation at day 7 postinfection, both methods had 97.22% (35 out of 36) agreement. Moreover, among 12 positive samples which were detected by conventional culture method, the flow cytometry assay could detect DV in 58.33% (7 out of 12) of samples even at day 3 postinfection. In conclusion, both monoclonal antibodies 8-8 and 16-4 can be used for the early detection of DEN-1-infected C6/36 cells, with 16-4 (anti-NS1) being the best choice for the rapid diagnosis of DV by both the IF staining and flow cytometry methods.