Wellington Sun

DC-SIGN (CD209) Mediates Dengue Virus Infection of Human Dendritic Cells

Dengue virus is a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus that productively infects human dendritic cells (DCs) primarily at the immature stage of their differentiation. We now find that all four serotypes of dengue use DC-SIGN (CD209), a C-type lectin, to infect dendritic cells. THP-1 cells become susceptible to dengue infection after transfection of DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), or its homologue L-SIGN, whereas the infection of dendritic cells is blocked by anti–DC-SIGN antibodies and not by antibodies to other molecules on these cells. Viruses produced by dendritic cells are infectious for DC-SIGN– and L-SIGN–bearing THP-1 cells and other permissive cell lines. Therefore, DC-SIGN may be considered as a new target for designing therapies that block dengue infection.

Human skin Langerhans cells are targets of dengue virus infection

Dengue virus (DV), an arthropod-borne flavivirus, causes a febrile illness for which there is no antiviral treatment and no vaccine. Macrophages are important in dengue pathogenesis; however, the initial target cell for DV infection remains unknown. As DV is introduced into human skin by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, we undertook experiments to determine whether human dendritic cells (DCs) were permissive for the growth of DV. Initial experiments demonstrated that blood-derived DCs were 10-fold more permissive for DV infection than were monocytes or macrophages. We confirmed this with human skin DCs (Langerhans cells and dermal/interstitial DCs). Using cadaveric human skin explants, we exposed skin DCs to DV ex vivo. Of the human leukoctye antigen DR-positive DCs that migrated from the skin, emigrants from both dermis and epidermis, 60–80% expressed DV antigens. These observations were supported by histologic findings from the skin rash of a human subject who received an attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine. Immunohistochemistry of the skin showed CD1a-positive DCs double-labeled with an antibody against DV envelope glycoprotein. These data demonstrate that human skin DCs are permissive for DV infection, and provide a potential mechanism for the transmission of DV into human skin.

Safety and immunogenicity of attenuated dengue virus vaccines (Aventis Pasteur) in human volunteers

A randomized, controlled, double-blinded study was conducted to determine safety and immunogenicity of five live attenuated dengue vaccines produced by Aventis Pasteur (AvP). The study was completed with 40 flavivirus non-immune volunteers: five recipients of each monovalent (dengue-1, dengue-2, dengue-3, or dengue-4) vaccine, ten recipients of tetravalent (dengue-1, dengue-2, dengue-3, and dengue-4) vaccine, and ten recipients of vaccine vehicle alone. All vaccines were administered in a single subcutaneous dose (range, 3.6-4.4 log(10) plaque forming units). No serious adverse reactions occurred in volunteers followed for 6 months after vaccination. Five vaccine recipients developed fever (T > or = 38.0 degrees C), including four tetravalent vaccinees between days 8 and 10 after vaccination. Dengue-1, dengue-2, dengue-3, or dengue-4 vaccine recipients reported similar frequency of mild symptoms of headache, malaise, and eye pain. Tetravalent vaccinees noted more moderate symptoms with onset from study days 8-11 and developed maculopapular rashes distributed over trunk and extremities. Transient neutropenia (white blood cells < 4000/mm3) was noted after vaccination but not thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100,000/mm3). All dengue-3, dengue-4, and tetravalent vaccine recipients were viremic between days 7 and 12 but viremia was rarely detected in dengue-1 or dengue-2 vaccinees. All dengue-2, dengue-3, and dengue-4, and 60% of dengue-1 vaccine recipients developed neutralizing and/or immunoglobulin M antibodies. All tetravalent vaccine recipients were viremic with dengue-3 virus and developed neutralizing antibodies to dengue-3 virus. Seven volunteers also had multivalent antibody responses, yet the highest antibody titers were against dengue-3 virus. The AvP live attenuated dengue virus vaccines are safe and tolerable in humans. The live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine was most reactogenic, and preferential replication of dengue-3 virus may have affected its infectivity and immunogenicity.

Differential Effects of Dengue Virus on Infected and Bystander Dendritic Cells

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role as major targets of dengue virus (DV) infections and initiators of antiviral immune responses. Previous observations showed that DCs are activated by infection, presumably acquiring the capacity to promote cell-mediated immunity. However, separate evaluations of the maturation profiles of infected and uninfected bystander cells show that infection impairs the ability of DCs to upregulate cell surface expression of costimulatory, maturation, and major histocompatibility complex molecules, resulting in reduced T-cell stimulatory capacity. Infected DCs failed to respond to tumor necrosis factor alpha as an additional maturation stimulus and were apoptotic. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) was detected in supernatants from cultures of DV-infected DCs and cocultures of DCs and T cells. Taken together, these results constitute an immune evasion strategy used by DV that directly impairs antigen-presenting cell function by maturation blockade and induction of apoptosis.

Phase 2 clinical trial of three formulations of tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccine in flavivirus-naïve adults

Sixteen dose formulations of our live-attenuated tetravalent dengue virus vaccines (TDV) were previously evaluated for safety and immunogenicity. Two of the sixteen candidate TDV formulations (Formulations 13 and 14) were selected for further evaluation. A new TDV formulation, Formulation 17, using a higher primary dog kidney (PDK) cell passage Dengue-1 virus (DENV-1) and a lower PDK cell passage DENV-4, was developed to optimize the neutralizing antibody response. All three formulations consist of combinations of 10exp3-5 pfu/dose of the four dengue vaccine virus serotypes. This double-blind, randomized trial in 71 healthy adult subjects evaluated vaccine safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity. TDV’s were given subcutaneously in the deltoid on Day 0 and 180 (6 months). Subjects were seen in clinic on Study Days 0, 10, 28, 180, 190 and 208 and filled out daily symptom diaries for 21 days after each vaccination. Formulation 13 was the most reactogenic, while both Formulations 14 and 17 were similar in reported reactions. Seventy-five percent, 31% and 31% of subjects were viremic on Day 10 after primary vaccination with Formulations 13, 14 and 17 respectively. Viremia was not detected in any subject following the second dose of vaccine. The immunogenicity endpoint was neutralizing antibody titer one month after the second vaccination. Thirty-six percent, 40% and 63% of vaccinated subjects developed tetravalent neutralizing antibodies after two doses of Formulations 13, 14 and 17, respectively. Formulation 17 was selected for further clinical evaluation based on this study.

Safety and Immunogenicity of a Tetravalent Live-attenuated Dengue Vaccine in Flavivirus Naive Children

A Phase I/II observer-blind, randomized, controlled trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a dengue virus (DENV) vaccine candidate in healthy Thai infants (aged 12-15 months) without measurable pre-vaccination neutralizing antibodies to DENV and Japanese encephalitis virus. Fifty-one subjects received two doses of either DENV (N = 34; four received 1/10th dose) or control vaccine (N = 17; dose 1, live varicella; dose 2, Haemophilus influenzae type b). After each vaccine dose, adverse events (AEs) were solicited for 21 days, and non-serious AEs were solicited for 30 days; serious AEs (SAEs) were recorded throughout the study. Laboratory safety assessments were performed at 10 and 30 days; neutralizing antibodies were measured at 30 days. The DENV vaccine was well-tolerated without any related SAEs. After the second dose, 85.7% of full-dose DENV vaccinees developed at least trivalent and 53.6% developed tetravalent neutralizing antibodies ≥ 1:10 to DENV (control group = 0%). This vaccine candidate, therefore, warrants continued development in this age group (NCT00322049; clinicaltrials.gov).

Protection of Rhesus Monkeys against Dengue Virus Challenge after Tetravalent Live Attenuated Dengue Virus Vaccination

Rhesus monkeys develop viremia after dengue virus (DENV) inoculation and have been used as an animal model to study DENV infection and DENV vaccine candidates. We evaluated, in this model, the protective efficacy of a live attenuated tetravalent DENV vaccine (TDV) candidate against parenteral challenge with parental near-wild-type DENV strains. Twenty monkeys were vaccinated with TDV at 0 and 1 month, and 20 unvaccinated monkeys served as controls. Vaccinated animals and their controls were inoculated with 10(3)-10(4) pfu of challenge virus 4.5 months after the second vaccination. Primary vaccination resulted in 95%, 100%, 70%, and 15% seroconversion to DENV serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4), respectively. After the second vaccination, the seropositivity rates were 100%, 100%, 90%, and 70%, respectively. Vaccination with TDV resulted in complete protection against viremia from DENV-2 challenge and in 80%, 80%, and 50% protection against challenge with DENV-1, -3, and -4, respectively. Our results suggest that the TDV can elicit protective immunity against all 4 DENV serotypes. Interference among the 4 vaccine viruses may have resulted in decreased antibody responses to DENV-3 and -4, which would require reformulation or dose optimization to minimize this interference during testing of the vaccine in humans.

Functional characterization of ex vivo blood myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells after infection with dengue virus.

Myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (mDC and pDC) are naturally distinctive subsets. We exposed both subsets to dengue virus (DV) in vitro and investigated their functional characteristics. High levels of DV replication in mDC were found to correlate with DC-SIGN expression. Production of inflammatory cytokines by mDC increased gradually after DV-infection, which was dependent on DV replication. Co-stimulatory markers were upregulated on mDC upon DV-infection. On the contrary, lower levels of DV-replication were observed in pDC, but the cytokine production in pDC was quicker and stronger. This cytokine response was not dependent on viral replication, but dependent on cell endosomal activity and TLR7, and could be also induced by purified DV genome RNA. These results clearly suggested functional differences between mDC and pDC in response to DV infection. Additionally, the TLR7-mediated recognition of DV RNA may be involved in pDC functional activation.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial of the Safety and Tolerability of IC51, an Inactivated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

BACKGROUND Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the most important mosquito-borne viral encephalitis and has a high case fatality rate. It is caused by Japanese encephalitis virus. Improved vaccines are urgently needed for residents in countries of endemicity, travelers, and the military. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of IC51, Intercells Vero cell-derived, purified, inactivated JE vaccine. METHODS This was a randomized (3:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase 3 trial. Healthy subjects were randomized to receive 2 doses of IC51 (n=2012) or placebo (n=663) at a 4-week interval. Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were documented over a period of 2 months. RESULTS The rate of severe AEFI was similar in the IC51 group (0.5%) and the placebo group (0.9%). The rate of medically attended AEFI and all AEFI was also similar in the IC51 group and the placebo group. The same applied for all adverse events, including local and systemic tolerability. Importantly, there were no signs of acute allergic reactions. CONCLUSION The Intercell JE vaccine IC51 had a safety profile similar to that of placebo. These data, together with the immunogenicity data from a recent phase 3 trial, form the basis of application for licensure of this vaccine. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00605058.

A human challenge model for dengue infection reveals a possible protective role for sustained interferon gamma levels during the acute phase of illness.

Dengue has recently been defined by the World Health Organization as a major international public health concern. Although several vaccine candidates are in various stages of development, there is no licensed vaccine available to assist in controlling the further spread of this mosquito borne disease. The need for a reliable animal model for dengue disease increases the risk to vaccine developers as they move their vaccine candidates into large-scale phase III testing. In this paper we describe the cellular immune responses observed in a human challenge model for dengue infection; a model that has the potential to provide efficacy data for potential vaccine candidates in a controlled setting. Serum levels of sIL-2Rα and sTNF-RII were increased in volunteers who developed illness. Supernatants from in vitro stimulated PBMC were tested for cytokines associated with a T(H)1 or T(H)2 T-cell response (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-5) and only IFN-γ was associated with protection against fever and/or viremia. Interestingly, IFN-γ levels drop to 0 pg/mL for volunteers who develop illness after challenge suggesting that some mechanism of immunosuppression may play a role in dengue illness. The human challenge model provides an opportunity to test potential vaccine candidates for efficacy prior to large-scale phase III testing, and hints at a possible mechanism for immune suppression by dengue.