Dengue virus research identifies mechanism for blood vessel barrier weakening

An international research team, including scientists from the Cancer Research Center (CSIC, USAL, FICUS), has discovered that dengue virus infection can temporarily weaken the blood vessel barrier. This finding provides insight into the mechanisms behind severe dengue, where loss of vascular integrity can lead to life-threatening complications such as hemorrhages, inflammatory shock, and sudden drops in blood pressure.

Using human microvasculature cells cultured in a laboratory, researchers observed that cells exposed to substances released by dengue-infected cells undergo a temporary state of plasticity. During this phase, endothelial cells stop behaving normally and instead adopt traits similar to tissue repair cells. This change is reversible, which may explain the temporary nature of the vascular barrier alteration.

The study identifies IL-6 and fibronectin as potential targets to protect the vascular barrier. Understanding these precise mechanisms could lead to new strategies for treating patients at high risk of severe complications, for which specific treatments do not yet exist.