Interferon-gamma-induced protein 10 in Dengue Virus infection

Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, or dengue shock syndrome. Interferons (IFNs), and IFN-gamma dependent chemokines, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 10/IFN-gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), CXCL9/MIG and CXCL11/I-TAC, and their common receptor chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR)(3) are induced by DENV infection; however it has been shown that the latter two could not compensate for the absence of IP-10. This paper reviews studies about DENV and IP-10. Evidences show the importance of IP-10 induction during DENV infection, in macrophages, lymphocytes, hepatic cells, denritic cells, in skin and in the brain. Furthermore it has been shown that chemokines IP-10, I-TAC and their receptor CXCR3 are involved in severity of dengue; in fact, pulmonary effusion or ascites, painful hepatomegaly or aspartate aminotransferase increase, are correlated with IP-10 levels. It has been also demonstrated that IP-10 was more elevated in subjects who subsequently developed dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. It has been also shown that IP-10 has a direct action in control of dengue viral replication. Furthermore IP-10 circulating levels may be used to discriminate dengue fever from other febbrile diseases. This is of particular importance in certain situations, for example to discriminate occupationally acquired dengue, in patients with febbrile disorders coming from endemic countries. These studies suggested that these chemokines can be used as potential biomarkers for differential diagnosis and the disease progression, while others can be used to control dengue viral replication, thus representing a viable targets for drug therapy.