Deletion of the C-terminal region of dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) abolishes anti-NS1-mediated platelet dysfunction and bleeding tendency

J Immunol. 2009 Aug 1;183(3):1797-803. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0800672. Epub 2009 Jul 10.

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying dengue hemorrhagic disease are incompletely understood. We previously showed that anti-dengue virus (DV) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) Abs cross-react with human platelets and inhibit platelet aggregation. Based on sequence homology alignment, the cross-reactive epitopes reside in the C-terminal region of DV NS1. In this study, we compared the effects of Abs against full-length DV NS1 and NS1 lacking the C-terminal aa 271 to 352 (designated DeltaC NS1). Anti-DeltaC NS1 Abs exhibited lower platelet binding activity than that of anti-full-length NS1. Anti-full-length NS1 but not anti-DeltaC NS1 Abs inhibited platelet aggregation, which was shown to involve integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) inactivation. We found that the bleeding time in full-length NS1-hyperimmunized mice was longer than that in the normal control mice. By contrast, DeltaC NS1-hyperimmunized mice showed a bleeding time similar to that of normal control mice. Passively administered anti-DV NS1, but not anti-DeltaC NS1, Ab level decreased markedly in serum and this decrease was correlated with Ab binding to platelets. A transient platelet loss in the circulation was observed after anti-DV NS1, but not anti-DeltaC NS1, Ab administration. In summary, platelet dysfunction and bleeding tendency are induced by anti-full-length DV NS1 but not by anti-DeltaC NS1 Abs. These findings may be important not only for understanding dengue hemorrhagic disease pathogenesis but also for dengue vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral*
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Blood Platelet Disorders / etiology
  • Blood Platelet Disorders / immunology*
  • Blood Platelet Disorders / virology
  • Blood Platelets / immunology
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • Blood Platelets / virology
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / chemistry
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / immunology
  • Hemorrhage / virology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Sequence Deletion*
  • Severe Dengue / immunology*
  • Severe Dengue / virology
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins