Role of the complement system in antibody-dependent enhancement of flavivirus infections

Flavivirus infections have increased dramatically in the last decades in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infections has been one of the main hypotheses to explain severity of disease and one of the major challenges to safe and effective vaccine development. In the presence of cross-reactive sub-neutralizing concentrations of anti-dengue antibodies, immune complexes can amplify viral infection in mononuclear phagocytic cells, triggering a cytokine cascade and activating the complement system that leads to severe disease. The complement system comprises a family of plasma and cellular surface proteins that recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns, modified ligands and immune complexes, interacting in a regulated manner and forming an enzymatic cascade. Pathogenic as well as protective effects of complement have been reported in flavivirus infections. This review provides updated knowledge on complement activation during flavivirus infection, including antiviral effects of complement and its regulation, as well as mechanisms of complement evasion and dysregulation of complement activity during viral infection leading to pathogenesis. Particularly, insights into classical pathway activation and its protective role on antibody-dependent enhancement of flavivirus infections are highlighted. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Automated summary

Flavivirus infections have been on the rise in tropical and subtropical regions in recent decades, with antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infections being a major challenge to vaccine development. The complement system, which plays a critical role in immune responses and pathogenesis, has both pathogenic and protective effects in flavivirus infections. This review focuses on the activation of the complement system during flavivirus infection, including its antiviral effects, regulation, evasion mechanisms, and dysregulation leading to pathogenesis.