Release of vasoactive cytokines by antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection of a human mast cell/basophil line

We report here the first demonstration of dengue virus infection and vasoactive cytokine response of a cell of the mast cell/basophil lineage. Infection of KU812 cells was dependent on dengue-specific antibody and gave rise to infectious virions. This antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection triggered a four- to fivefold increase in the release of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and a modest increase for IL-6 but not for an alternate cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The results suggest a potential role for mast cells/basophils in the pathogenesis of dengue virus-induced disease.