Mast cell-macrophage dynamics in modulation of dengue virus infection in skin

Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever, or dengue shock syndrome. Mast cells have been speculated to play a role in DENV disease although their precise roles are unclear. In this study, we used mast cell-deficient Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice to investigate the involvement of mast cells after intradermal DENV infection. An approximately two- to three-fold higher level of DENV NS3 antigen was detected at the skin inoculation site in DENV-infected Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice than in DENV-infected wild-type (WT) mice (using a dose of 1 × 10⁹ plaque-forming units/mouse). Moreover, as an indicator of heightened pathogenesis, a more prolonged bleeding time was observed in DENV-infected Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice than in WT mice. Monocytes/macrophages are considered to be important targets for DENV infection, so we investigated the susceptibility and chemokine response of DENV-infected peritoneal macrophages from Kit^W-sh/W-sh and WT mice both ex vivo and in vivo. There was a tendency for higher DENV infection and higher secretion of CCL2 (MCP-1) from peritoneal macrophages isolated from Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice than those from WT mice. In vivo studies using intradermal inoculation of DENV showed about twofold higher levels of infiltrating macrophages and CCL2 (MCP-1) at the inoculation site in both mock control and DENV-inoculated Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice than in corresponding WT mice. In summary, compared with WT mice, Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice show enhanced DENV infection and macrophage infiltration at the skin inoculation site as well as increased DENV-associated bleeding time. The results indicate an intriguing interplay between mast cells and tissue macrophages to restrict DENV replication in the skin.