Cross-reactive Dengue virus-specific CD8+ T cells protect against Zika virus during pregnancy

Jose Angel Regla-Nava, Annie Elong Ngono, Karla M. Viramontes, Anh Thy Huynh, Ying Ting Wang, Anh Viet T. Nguyen, Rebecca Salgado, Anila Mamidi, Kenneth Kim, Michael S. Diamond, Sujan Shresta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

As Zika virus (ZIKV) emerges into Dengue virus (DENV)-endemic areas, cases of ZIKV infection in DENV-immune pregnant women may rise. Here we show that prior DENV immunity affects maternal and fetal ZIKV infection in pregnancy using sequential DENV and ZIKV infection models. Fetuses in ZIKV-infected DENV-immune dams were normal sized, whereas fetal demise occurred in non-immune dams. Moreover, reduced ZIKV RNA is present in the placenta and fetuses of ZIKV-infected DENV-immune dams. DENV cross-reactive CD8+ T cells expand in the maternal spleen and decidua of ZIKV-infected dams, their depletion increases ZIKV infection in the placenta and fetus, and results in fetal demise. The inducement of cross-reactive CD8+ T cells via peptide immunization or adoptive transfer results in decreased ZIKV infection in the placenta. Prior DENV immunity can protect against ZIKV infection during pregnancy in mice, and CD8+ T cells are sufficient for this cross-protection. This has implications for understanding the natural history of ZIKV in DENV-endemic areas and the development of optimal ZIKV vaccines.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3042
JournalNature communications
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018

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