Interference of Galectin-1 in viral replication of dengue type-1 (DENV-1)

• Grant number: 13/07340-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Dias Baruffi
• Grantee: Marise Lopes Fermino
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dengue is one of the most important viral infections that occur in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, affecting about 50 million people and causing more than 25,000 deaths annually. In Brazil, dengue virus serotype-1 (DENV-1) was reintroduced in 1981 and since then, the 4 serotypes began to circulate in different regions of the country. Despite the steady increase in the number of cases and the efforts to combat insect transmitter, methods of diagnosis and treatment are still quite deficient, and the viral pathogenesis is still not fully understood. In this regard, our group has been conducting studies whose focus is to evaluate the impact of galectin-1, a carbohydrate-binding protein, in the infection caused by dengue virus type-1. Our data show that macrophages isolated from galectin-1 deficient mice (Lgals1-/-) exhibited greater viral load after in vitro infection compared to cells from wild animals. On the other hand, human endothelial cell lines expressing galectin-1 are less susceptible to DENV-1 infection. Furthermore, a particularly interesting data show that the addition of exogenous galectin-1 to cultures of different human cell lines infected with DENV-1 significantly reduces viral load released by these cells. These data indicate that galectin-1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the virus. Therefore, we are encouraged to explore the effects of this protein in viral replication cycle. Our main goal is to identify which one(s) step(s) of viral replication cycle galectin-1 would be interfering, and whether it would be able to decrease its virulence. The elucidation of these processes should contribute not only to the expansion of knowledge in the field of galectins, but also can generate foundation for the development of strategies that facilitate the use of exogenous galectin-1 as a alternative treatment of this disease.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TOLEDO, KARINA ALVES; FERMINO, MARISE LOPES; ANDRADE, CAMILLO DEL CISTIA; RIUL, THALITA BACHELLI; ALVES, RENATA TOME; MENJON MULLER, VANESSA DANIELLE; RUSSO, RAQUEL RINALDI; STOWELL, SEAN R.; CUMMINGS, RICHARD D.; AQUINO, VICTOR HUGO; et al. Galectin-1 Exerts Inhibitory Effects during DENV-1 Infection. PLoS One, v. 9, n. 11, NOV 13 2014. (13/07340-1)