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Circulating levels of soluble MICB in infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections
Daniel H Libraty1, Lei Zhang1, AnaMae Obcena2
1Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Abstract:
Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. A MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was previously associated with symptomatic dengue compared to non-dengue causes of acute febrile illnesses in infants. We measured circulating levels of soluble (s)MICB in the sera of infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections. We found that serum levels of sMICB increased between pre-infection and acute illness among infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections. The likelihood of being hospitalized with an acute primary DENV infection during infancy also tended to be higher with increasing acute illness sMICB levels. The elevation of sMICB during acute primary DENV infections in infants likely represents an immune evasion strategy and contributes to the severity of the acute illness.
Insights
Soluble MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (sMICB) levels rise during infant dengue infections. Higher sMICB during acute illness may indicate a higher risk of hospitalization, suggesting an immune evasion role in dengue severity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Dengue is a major global arthropod-borne viral disease.
- A prior study linked a MICB single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to symptomatic dengue in infants.
- MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) is an immune molecule.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure soluble MICB (sMICB) levels in infants with primary dengue virus infections.
- To investigate the association between sMICB levels and dengue severity, including hospitalization.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from infants with symptomatic primary dengue virus infections.
- Circulating levels of soluble MICB were measured in sera.
- sMICB levels were compared between pre-infection and acute illness phases.
Main Results:
- Serum sMICB levels significantly increased from pre-infection to acute illness in infants with primary dengue.
- Elevated sMICB levels during acute dengue illness showed a trend towards increased hospitalization risk.
- Increased sMICB during infection may be an immune evasion mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Elevated sMICB during acute primary dengue infections in infants is observed.
- sMICB may play a role in immune evasion during dengue virus infection.
- Higher sMICB levels might contribute to increased dengue illness severity and hospitalization in infants.
