Anti-platelet and anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies in Vietnamese infants and children with dengue hemorrhagic fever

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a serious public health problem. Increased vascular permeability and thrombocytopenia are the hallmarks of DHF. The mechanisms involved in DHF/Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) pathogenesis is not fully understood. This study gives evidence of the presence of antibodies which cross-reacted with platelets, and endothelial cells in the sera of Vietnamese infants and children with DHF/DSS. The anti-platelet, anti-endothelial cell IgM levels were higher in the sera of DHF/DSS infants and children, compared with controls. However, the levels of these autoantibodies were not correlated with the severity of DHF (non-shock DHF vs DSS). The anti-platelet, and anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of DHF/DSS in infants and children with predominantly primary, and secondary dengue infections, respectively. The epitopes shared by surface molecules of platelets and endothelial cells and dengue virus antigens need to be identified and avoided in designing the safe candidate vaccines.