Comparative monocyte and T cell responses in DENV-exposed subjects from South-East Asia and DENV-naïve residents in Taiwan

• Published in: Journal of microbiology, immunology and infection Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 17 - 26
• Main Authors: Wang, Sheng-Hsuan, Chuang, Yun-Erh, Tan, Sia-Seng, Ho, Tzu-Chuan, Perng, Oscar Guey Chuen, Chen, Po-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.02.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Asia, Southeastern; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines - metabolism; Dengue - immunology; Dengue - virology; Dengue virus; Dengue Virus - immunology; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Monocytes - immunology; Previously DENV-Exposed subjects; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Taiwan; Young Adult; Asia, Southeastern; Taiwan; Interferon-gamma; Monocytes; Dengue virus; T cells; Previously DENV-Exposed subjects
• ISSN: 1684-1182; 1995-9133; 1995-9133
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.11.006

Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most troublesome mosquito-borne infectious viruses in tropical and subtropical zones. People with secondary/multiple DENV infections are at an increased risk of developing severe dengue. Both monocytes and T cells are known to play important roles in the immune response against DENV. However, the function of monocytes and T cells in individuals with potentially multiple exposures to DENV is rarely reported. In the present study, we performed a functional analysis of monocytes and T cells from people with previous DENV infection and DENV-naïve people that stimulated with DENV2 ex vivo. Our preliminary analysis indicated that the response of monocytes and T cells to DENV2 restimulation was comparable between DENV-exposed and DENV-naïve individuals. Furthermore, the cytokine expression profiles in monocytes from both naïve individuals and previously DENV-exposed subjects were similar after DENV2 stimulation. In addition, it was observed that the function of T cells was also equivalent when monocytes were present as antigen-presenting cells for dengue antigen, NS3, in terms of cell proliferation, interferon-gamma (IFNγ) secretion, and memory response. Based on the results, it was observed that previously DENV-exposed monocytes and T cells seemed to be anergic during DENV reinfection. However, whether the impaired response of monocytes and T cells against DENV in people with a history of previous DENV infection leads to severe dengue upon secondary infection in endemic areas requires further investigation.