DEPRESSED MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS IN DENGUE VIRUS-INFECTED MICE - ROLE OF THE CYTO-TOXIC FACTOR

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (2) , 194-202
Abstract
Dengue virus type 2 (DV) infection causes immunosuppression in mice. Since macrophages are crucial for immune response, their functions were studied. In DV-infected mice the phagocytosis of neutral-red and latex particles by splenic and peritoneal-cavity macrophages was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) from days 3-10 after inoculation. The migration of splenic and peritoneal macrophages on a glass surface was reduced significantly (P < 0.001) from days 4-10 after inoculation. Pretreatment of normal mouse spleen cells with DV-induced cytotoxic factor (CF) inhibited the phagocytic and migratory functions in the same way as observed in DV-infected mice. Higher dilutions of CF (10-3 and 10-3.7) did not kill the cells but affected their functions. Macrophage functions apparently are affected by killing and metabolic changes in these cells by DV-induced CF, thus producing immunosuppression.