Dengue Virus Infection Activates Interleukin-1β to Induce Tissue Injury and Vascular Leakage.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes several diseases ranging from dengue fever to life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome characterized by endothelial dysfunction, vascular leakage, and shock. Here, we identify a potential mechanism by which DENV induces tissue injury and vascular leakage by promoting the activation of interleukin (IL)-1 beta. DENV facilitates IL-1 beta secretion in infected patients, mice, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), and monocyte-differentiated macrophages (THP-1) via activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. The accumulated data suggest that IL-1 beta probably induces vascular leakage and tissue injury in interferon-alpha/beta receptor 1 deficient C57BL/6 mice (IFNAR(-/-) C57BL/6), whereas IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) alleviates these effects of IL-1 beta. Finally, administration of recombinant IL-1 beta protein results in vascular leakage and tissue injury in C57BL/6 mice. Together, the accumulated results demonstrate that IL-1 beta contributes to DENV-associated pathology and suggest that IL-1RA acts as a potential agent for the treatment of DENV-associated diseases.