Summary
Dengue viruses (DENV), a group of four serologically distinct but related flaviviruses,
are the cause of one of the most important emerging viral diseases. DENV infections
result in a wide spectrum of clinical disease including dengue haemorrhagic fever
(DHF), a viral haemorrhagic disease characterised by bleeding and plasma leakage.The
characteristic feature of DHF is the transient period of plasma leakage and a haemorrhagic
tendency. DHF occurs mostly during a secondary DENV infection. Serotype cross-reactive
antibodies and mediators from serotype cross-reactive Dengue-specific T cells have
been impli-cated in the pathogenesis. A complex interaction between virus, host immune
response and endothelial cells likely impacts the barrier integrity and functions
of endothelial cells leading to plasma leakage. Recently the role of angiogenic factors
and the role of dengue virus on endothelial cell transcription and functions have
been studied. Insights into the mechanisms that confer protection or cause disease
are critical in the development of prophylactic and therapeutic modalities for this
important disease.
Keywords
Dengue viruses - Dengue haemorrhagic fever - plasma leakage - permeability - immune
system