Therapeutic efficacy of humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 in the mouse model

PLoS Pathog. 2022 Apr 29;18(4):e1010469. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010469. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) which infects about 390 million people per year in tropical and subtropical areas manifests various disease symptoms, ranging from fever to life-threatening hemorrhage and even shock. To date, there is still no effective treatment for DENV disease, but only supportive care. DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) has been shown to play a key role in disease pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that anti-DENV NS1 antibody can provide disease protection by blocking the DENV-induced disruption of endothelial integrity. We previously demonstrated that anti-NS1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) protected mice from all four serotypes of DENV challenge. Here, we generated humanized anti-NS1 mAbs and transferred them to mice after DENV infection. The results showed that DENV-induced prolonged bleeding time and skin hemorrhage were reduced, even several days after DENV challenge. Mechanistic studies showed the ability of humanized anti-NS1 mAbs to inhibit NS1-induced vascular hyperpermeability and to elicit Fcγ-dependent complement-mediated cytolysis as well as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of cells infected with four serotypes of DENV. These results highlight humanized anti-NS1 mAb as a potential therapeutic agent in DENV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Dengue Virus*
  • Dengue* / prevention & control
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by MOST Grants 106-3114-B-006-003 (YSL, SWW, TMY), 108-2321-B-006-013 (YSL, SWW, TMY), 109-2320-B-006-068 (SWW) and 109-2327-B-006-010 and 110-2327-B-006-005 (SWW, TMY). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.