B-cell responses during primary and secondary dengue virus infections in humans

J Infect Dis. 2011 Nov 15;204(10):1514-22. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir607. Epub 2011 Sep 19.

Abstract

Low-avidity serotype-cross-reactive antibodies are hypothesized to play a key role in triggering severe disease in patients with secondary dengue virus (DENV) infection. However, there is little systematic information about the frequency, avidity, and cross-reactivity of DENV-specific B cells in individuals experiencing primary instead of secondary infection. We compared DENV-specific B-cell responses in a cohort of Thai children with primary or secondary DENV infection. B cells specific for DENV precursor membrane protein, envelope (E) protein, and nonstructural protein 1 were detectable in immune peripheral blood mononuclear cells with the highest frequencies of DENV E-specific B cells detected in patients experiencing primary DENV-1 infections. DENV E-specific B cells were highly serotype-specific after primary DENV infections, whereas most E-specific B cells in patients with secondary infection were serotype-cross-reactive and secreted antibodies with higher avidity to heterologous DENV serotypes. Our data suggest that the minor populations of serotype-cross-reactive B cells generated by primary DENV infection are preferentially expanded during secondary DENV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross Reactions
  • Dengue / immunology*
  • Dengue Virus / classification
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Serotyping
  • Thailand
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • NS1 protein, Dengue virus type 2
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins