Inflammasome Fuels Dengue Severity

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Sep 10:10:489. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00489. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Dengue is an acute febrile disease triggered by dengue virus. Dengue is the widespread and rapidly transmitted mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. Diverse symptoms and diseases due to Dengue virus (DENV) infection ranges from dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (life-threatening) and dengue shock syndrome characterized by shock, endothelial dysfunction and vascular leakage. Several studies have linked the severity of dengue with the induction of inflammasome. DENV activates the NLRP3-specific inflammasome in DENV infected human patients, mice; specifically, mouse bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs), dendritic cells, endothelial cells, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), keratinocytes, monocyte-differentiated macrophages (THP-1), and platelets. Dengue virus mediated inflammasome initiates the maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, which are critical for dengue pathology and inflammatory response. Several studies have reported the molecular mechanism through which (host and viral factors) dengue induces inflammasome, unravels the possible mechanisms of DENV pathogenesis and sets up the stage for the advancement of DENV therapeutics. In this perspective article, we discuss the potential implications and our understanding of inflammasome mechanisms of dengue virus and highlight research areas that have potential to inhibit the pathogenesis of viral diseases, specifically for dengue.

Keywords: IL-1β; NLRP3 inflammasome; cytokine storm; dengue (DENV); innate immune response; mosquito borne disease; pyroptosis; vascular leakage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dengue Virus* / pathogenicity
  • Dengue*
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear
  • Mice
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Inflammasomes