Antibody-dependent enhancement of coxsackievirus-B infection: Role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Antibodies can prevent viruses from infecting target cells, but antibodies against viruses can also enhance the infection of target cells. This phenomenon is called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. The mechanisms of ADE of infection and the results of this phenomenon in vivo are discussed. The ADE of CVB infection has been observed in animal models. In the human system it has been shown in vitro that CVB4, in combination with non-neutralizing antibodies, can infect human monocytes and stimulate the production of IFN-a by these cells through interactions with a specific viral receptor (CAR) and receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (FcgRII and FcgRIII). It cannot be excluded that the ADE of CVB infection in humans can increase the infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells by these viruses, can cause viral escape from the immune response, and may contribute to the spread of CVBs in the host. Therefore, antibodies enhancing CVB infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes induced by or associated with these viruses.