Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is critical for dengue NS1-induced endothelial glycocalyx degradation and hyperpermeability

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007033
• Publication Date: 2018-04-27T17:34:43Z
• Authors: Hong-Ru Chen; Chiao-Hsuan Chao; Ching-Chuan Liu; Tzong-Shiann Ho; Huey-Pin Tsai; Guey-Chuen Perng; Yee-Shin Lin; Jen-Ren Wang; Trai-Ming Yeh
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; QH301-705.5; Endothelial Cells; Mice, Transgenic; RC581-607; Dengue Virus; Viral Nonstructural Proteins; Glycocalyx; Cell Line; 3. Good health; Capillary Permeability; Dengue; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Humans; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Biology (General); Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; Research Article

Vascular leakage is one of the salient characteristics of severe dengue. Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of dengue virus (DENV) can stimulate endothelial cells to secrete endothelial hyperpermeability factor, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and the glycocalyx degradation factor heparanase 1 (HPA-1). However, it is unclear whether MIF is directly involved in NS1-induced glycocalyx degradation. In this study, we observed that among NS1, MIF and glycocalyx degradation-related molecules, the HPA-1, metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and syndecan 1 (CD138) serum levels were all increased in dengue patients, and only NS1 and MIF showed a positive correlation with the CD138 level in severe patients. To further characterize and clarify the relationship between MIF and CD138, we used recombinant NS1 to stimulate human cells in vitro and challenge mice in vivo. Our tabulated results suggested that NS1 stimulation could induce human endothelial cells to secrete HPA-1 and immune cells to secrete MMP-9, resulting in endothelial glycocalyx degradation and hyperpermeability. Moreover, HPA-1, MMP-9, and CD138 secretion after NS1 stimulation was blocked by MIF inhibitors or antibodies both in vitro and in mice. Taken together, these results suggest that MIF directly engages in dengue NS1-induced glycocalyx degradation and that targeting MIF may represent a possible therapeutic approach for preventing dengue-induced vascular leakage.