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A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
04:23

A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease

Published on: April 28, 2019

Heart and skeletal muscle are targets of dengue virus infection

Doris Martha Salgado1, José Miguel Eltit, Keith Mansfield

  • 1Universidad Surcolombiana and Pediatric Unit, Hospital Universitario de Neiva, Neiva, Colombia.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|December 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Dengue virus infects heart and skeletal muscle cells, causing inflammation and calcium imbalances. This study demonstrates viral tropism in cardiac and skeletal tissues, potentially explaining myocarditis in pediatric dengue hemorrhagic fever patients.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cardiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Dengue fever is a significant re-emerging tropical disease.
  • Viral tropism in heart and muscle tissues remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate dengue virus tropism in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
  • To determine the association between dengue virus infection and myocarditis in children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 102 pediatric dengue hemorrhagic fever patients.
  • Clinical diagnosis, ECG, and echocardiography for myocarditis.
  • Immunohistochemistry and in vitro studies on infected myotubes and heart tissue.

Main Results:

  • Eleven children presented with myocarditis symptoms.
  • Widespread dengue virus infection and inflammation observed in cardiac tissue of a fatal case.
  • In vitro studies showed dengue virus infection of myotubes, increased IP-10 expression, and elevated intracellular Ca2+.

Conclusions:

  • Dengue virus infects heart and skeletal muscle cells.
  • Calcium storage derangements in infected cells may contribute to pediatric myocarditis.
Abstract

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