Stem Cell Therapy in Dengue Virus-Infected BALB/C Mice Improves Hepatic Injury

Extensive clinical efforts have been made to control the severity of dengue diseases; however, the dengue morbidity and mortality have not declined. Dengue virus (DENV) can infect and cause systemic damage in many organs, resulting in organ failure. Here, we present a novel report showing a tailored stem-cell-based therapy that can aid in viral clearance and rescue liver cells from further damage during dengue infection. We administered a combination of hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells in a DENV-infected BALB/c mouse model and found that delivery of this cell cocktail had improved their liver functions, confirmed by hematology, histopathology, and next-generation sequencing. These stem and progenitor cells can differentiate into target cells and repair the damaged tissues. In addition, the regime can regulate endothelial proliferation and permeability, modulate inflammatory reactions, enhance extracellular matrix production and angiogenesis, and secrete an array of growth factors to create an enhanced milieu for cell reparation. No previous study has been published on the treatment of dengue infection using stem cells combination. In conclusion, dengue-induced liver damage was rescued by administration of stem cell therapy, with less apoptosis and improved repair and regeneration in the dengue mouse model.

Dengue fever outbreak by more than one serotype in a municipal area of Kolkata, Eastern India

A dengue outbreak struck Baranagar municipality area of North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal in July 2016. This study presents the epidemiological and virology findings of this outbreak. The outbreak started from 17 July and continued until 17^th December. Total 1660 dengue cases (overall attack rate: 7/1000) and two deaths (case fatality rate: 1/1000) were reported. All age groups were affected. Out of the 213 blood samples collected from probable dengue cases and tested at Virus Unit, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, 163 (76%) tested seropositive through NS1 / IgM ELISA confirming dengue infection. DENV 1 was the predominant (53%, 44/83) serotype followed by DENV 2 (23%, 19/83), DENV 4 (15.6%, 13/83), DENV 3 (8.4%,7/ 83). Coexistence of dengue and chikungunya virus infection was detected. Major presentation of the confirmed dengue cases was fever with headache (95%), followed by arthralgia, myalgia, retro-orbital pain, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and rash. Abundance of vector breeding spaces was observed in the area. Accordingly the health authorities were suggested to conduct frequent mass awareness campaigns involving community to reduce breeding sources during pre-monsoon and monsoon months. Further, adult mosquito control measures were also suggested throughout the year and inter-departmental coordination was recommended for prevention of such outbreaks in future.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in BALB/c Mouse Liver upon Primary Infection with DENV1 and Sequential Heterologous Infection with DENV2

Dengue virus (DENV) results in 100 million cases of infections and 22,000 deaths per year. Liver involvement, thrombocytopenia, haemorrhage and plasma leakage are characteristic manifestations of severe forms of DENV infection. However, the molecular pathways of DENV infection have not been comprehensively studied compared to the host immunological responses. We performed an in vivo study using the BALB/c mouse model with a modified mRNA differential display methodology (GeneFishing^TM) using the annealing control primer (ACP) system to capture differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in mice liver upon primary infection with DENV1 and sequential heterologous infection with DENV2. Secondary heterologous infection with DENV2 was carried out at Immunoglobulin IgM and IgG peaks following the primary DENV1 infection with the hope of determining any potential effect antibodies IgM and IgG may have on sequential heterologous infection. 30 DEGs were identified and sequenced across all three treatment groups and they belong to a variety of important pathways such as apoptosis, innate immune response, inflammatory response, metabolic processes and oxidative stress. Analysis of differentially expressed genes in response to viral infection offers valuable knowledge about the dynamic and complex association between host cell and the virus. Furthermore, some DEGs identified support DENV induced liver damage.