Human hantavirus infection elicits pronounced redistribution of mononuclear phagocytes in peripheral blood and airways

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006462
• Publication Date: 2017-06-22T17:47:31Z
• Authors: Saskia Scholz; Faezzah Baharom; Gregory Rankin; Kimia T. Maleki; Shawon Gupta; Sindhu Vangeti; Jamshid Pourazar; Andrea Discacciati; Jonas Höijer; Matteo Bottai; Niklas K. Björkström; Johan Rasmuson; Magnus Evander; Anders Blomberg; Hans-Gustaf Ljung...; Jonas Klingström; Clas Ahlm; Anna Smed-Sörensen
• Keywords: Viremia; Puumala virus; Hantavirus Infection

Hantaviruses infect humans via inhalation of virus-contaminated rodent excreta. Infection can cause severe disease with up to 40% mortality depending on the viral strain. The virus primarily targets vascular endothelium without direct cytopathic effects. Instead, exaggerated immune responses may inadvertently contribute development. Mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs), including monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs), orchestrate adaptive responses. Since hantaviruses are transmitted inhalation, studying immunological events in airways is importance understand processes leading immunopathogenesis. Here, we studied 17 patients infected Puumala that causes a mild form hemorrhagic fever renal syndrome (HFRS). Bronchial biopsies as well longitudinal blood draws were obtained from patients. During acute stage disease, significant influx MNPs expressing HLA-DR, CD11c or CD123 was detected patients' bronchial tissue. In parallel, absolute numbers dramatically reduced peripheral blood, coinciding viremia. Expression CCR7 remaining suggested migration and/or lymphoid tissues. Numbers subsequently normalized during convalescent phase when RNA no longer detectable plasma. Finally, exposed vitro virus, demonstrated an induction expression MNPs. conclusion, present study shows marked redistribution hantavirus process underlie local activation immunopathogenesis hantavirus-infected