title: Dendritic cell apoptosis and the pathogenesis of dengue.
abstract: Dengue viruses and other members of the Flaviviridae family are emerging human pathogens. Dengue is transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes. Following infection through the bite, cells of the hematopoietic lineage, like dendritic cells, are the first targets of dengue virus infection. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen presenting cells, sensing pathogens, processing and presenting the antigens to T lymphocytes, and triggering an adaptive immune response. Infection of DCs by dengue virus may induce apoptosis, impairing their ability to present antigens to T cells, and thereby contributing to dengue pathogenesis. This review focuses on general mechanisms by which dengue virus triggers apoptosis, and possible influence of DC-apoptosis on dengue  disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Virology of the Carlos Chagas Institute, ICC/Fiocruz, Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader Street 3775, CIC, Curitiba, Paraná, 81350-010, Brazil. sth_martins@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Sharon de T
authors.initials: Sde T
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Guilherme F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Lysangela R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Claudia Nunes
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Duarte dos Santos
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bordignon
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans