Long-Term Arthralgia after Mayaro Virus Infection Correlates with Sustained Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Response |
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| Authors: | Felix W. Santiago Eric S. Halsey Crystyan Siles Stalin Vilcarromero Carolina Guevara Jesus A. Silvas Cesar Ramal Julia S. Ampuero Patricia V. Aguilar |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.; 2. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.; 3. US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.; 4. US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Iquitos, Peru.; 5. Hospital Regional, Loreto, Peru.; 6. Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.; Florida Department of Health, UNITED STATES, |
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| Abstract: | Mayaro virus (MAYV), an alphavirus similar to chikungunya virus (CHIKV), causes an acute debilitating disease which results in the development of long-term arthralgia in more than 50% of infected individuals. Currently, the immune response and its role in the development of MAYV-induced persistent arthralgia remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the immune response of individuals with confirmed MAYV infection in a one-year longitudinal study carried out in Loreto, Peru. We report that MAYV infection elicits robust immune responses that result in the development of a strong neutralizing antibody response and the secretion of pro-inflammatory immune mediators. The composition of these inflammatory mediators, in some cases, differed to those previously observed for CHIKV. Key mediators such as IL-13, IL-7 and VEGF were strongly induced following MAYV infection and were significantly increased in subjects that eventually developed persistent arthralgia. Although a strong neutralizing antibody response was observed in all subjects, it was not sufficient to prevent the long-term outcomes of MAYV infection. This study provides initial immunologic insight that may eventually contribute to prognostic tools and therapeutic treatments against this emerging pathogen. |
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