Figure 2.

Possible mechanisms by which dengue virus may induce apoptosis of Dendritic cells (DCs). Dengue virus (DENV) can directly induce DC-apoptosis through replication inside infected cells. Apoptosis may also be induced in infected and uninfected-DC via exosomes, cytokines and viral proteins secreted from infected DCs. It has been demonstrated that TNF-α protects DCs from apoptosis induced by DENV, possibly inducing DC maturation. Also, structural and non-structural viral proteins may either induce apoptosis or protect DC from apoptosis. Finally, induction of apoptosis by DENV in infected and uninfected DC presumably contributes to dengue pathogenesis by promoting high viremia, production of inflammatory cytokines, reduced antigen-presentation and low DENV-specific T-cell activation.