title: A systems immunology approach to plasmacytoid dendritic cell function in cytopathic virus infections.
abstract: Plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC)-mediated protection against cytopathic virus infection involves various molecular, cellular, tissue-scale, and organism-scale events. In order to better understand such multiscale interactions, we have implemented a systems immunology approach focusing on the analysis of the structure, dynamics and operating principles of virus-host interactions which constrain the initial spread of the pathogen. Using high-resolution experimental data sets coming from the well-described mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) model, we first calibrated basic modules including MHV infection of its primary target cells, i.e. pDCs and macrophages (Mphis). These basic building blocks were used to generate and validate an integrative mathematical model for in vivo infection dynamics. Parameter estimation for the system indicated that on a per capita basis, one infected pDC secretes sufficient type I IFN to protect 10(3) to 10(4) Mphis from cytopathic viral infection. This extremely high protective capacity of pDCs secures the spleen's capability to function as a 'sink' for the virus produced in peripheral organs such as the liver. Furthermore, our results suggest that the pDC population in spleen ensures a robust protection against virus variants which substantially down-modulate IFN secretion. However, the ability of pDCs to protect against severe disease caused by virus variants exhibiting an enhanced liver tropism and higher replication rates appears to be rather limited. Taken together, this systems immunology analysis suggests that antiviral therapy against cytopathic viruses should primarily limit viral replication within peripheral target organs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Numerical Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Gennady
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bocharov
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Züst
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cervantes-Barragan
authors.forename: Tatyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luzyanina
authors.forename: Egor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiglintsev
authors.forename: Valery A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Chereshnev
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludewig
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049490:Systems Biology / Q000379:methods*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents