Antibody-enhanced binding of dengue-2 virus to human platelets.

The mechanisms underlying severe thrombocytopenia in dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) are not completely understood. We present here the first evidence that dengue type 2 virus binds to human platelets only in the presence of virus-specific antibody, supporting a role for immune-mediated clearance of platelets in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in DHF/DSS. Antibody-enhanced binding of virus of platelets was also demonstrated with a panel of eight murine monoclonal antibodies specific for the dengue E protein. The degree of binding was dependent on the antibody used but not on the antibody IgG subclass, indicating that factors other than the platelet Fc receptor are involved in binding of virus-antibody complexes to the platelet surface. Confirmation that antibody-dependent virus binding to platelets is not primarily mediated by the platelet Fc receptor was obtained by demonstrating good binding even when platelets were pretreated with the Fc gamma RII-specific antibody IV.3.