Hepatic proinflammatory myeloid phenotypes are a hallmark of Ebola virus Kikwit pathogenesis in rhesus monkeys

The liver is an early systemic target of Ebola virus (EBOV), but characterization beyond routine histopathology and viral antigen distribution is limited. We hypothesized Ebola virus disease (EVD) systemic proinflammatory responses would be reflected in temporally altered liver myeloid phenotypes. We utilized multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry (mfIHC), multispectral whole slide imaging, and image analysis to quantify molecular phenotypes of myeloid cells in the liver of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta; n = 21) infected with EBOV Kikwit. Liver samples included uninfected controls (n = 3), 3 days postinoculation (DPI; n = 3), 4 DPI (n = 3), 5 DPI (n = 3), 6 DPI (n = 3), and terminal disease (6-8 DPI; n = 6). Alterations in hepatic macrophages occurred at >= 5 DPI characterized by a 1.4-fold increase in CD68+ immunoreactivity and a transition from primarily CD14(-)CD16(+) to CD14(+)CD16(-) macrophages, with a 2.1-fold decrease in CD163 expression in terminal animals compared with uninfected controls. An increase in the neutrophil chemoattractant and alarmin S100A9 occurred within hepatic myeloid cells at 5 DPI, followed by rapid neutrophil influx at >= 6 DPI. An acute rise in the antiviral myxovirus resistance protein 1 (MxA) occurred at >= 4 DPI, with a predilection for enhanced expression in uninfected cells. Distinctive expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II was observed in hepatocytes during terminal disease. Results illustrate that EBOV causes macrophage phenotype alterations as well as neutrophil influx and prominent activation of interferon host responses in the liver. Results offer insight into potential therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or modulate the host proinflammatory response to normalize hepatic myeloid functionality.

Automated summary

The liver in rhesus macaques infected with Ebola virus shows altered myeloid phenotypes, increased neutrophil influx, and activation of interferon responses. These findings provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for modulating the host's inflammatory response and normalizing hepatic myeloid functionality.