Differential Enhancement of Dengue Virus Immune Complex Infectivity Mediated by Signaling-Competent and Signaling-Incompetent Human FcγRIA (CD64) or FcγRIIA (CD32)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated entry of infectious dengue virus immune complexes into monocytes/macrophages is hypothesized to be a key event in the pathogenesis of complicated dengue fever. FcγRIA (CD64) and FcγRIIA (CD32), which predominate on the surface of such dengue virus-permissive cells, were compared for their influence on the infectivity of dengue 2 virus immune complexes formed with human dengue virus antibodies. A signaling immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) incorporated into the accessory γ-chain subunit that associates with FcγRIA and constitutively in FcγRIIA is required for phagocytosis mediated by these receptors. To determine whether FcγRIA and FcγRIIA activation functions are also required for internalization of infectious dengue virus immune complexes, we generated native and signaling-incompetent versions of each receptor by site-directed mutagenesis of ITAM tyrosine residues. Plasmids designed to express these receptors were transfected into COS-7 cells, and dengue virus replication was measured by plaque assay and flow cytometry. We found that both receptors mediated enhanced dengue virus immune complex infectivity but that FcγRIIA appeared to do so far more effectively. Abrogation of FcγRIA signaling competency, either by expression without γ-chain or by coexpression with γ-chain mutants, was associated with significant impairment of phagocytosis and of dengue virus immune complex infectivity. Abrogation of FcγRIIA signaling competency was also associated with equally impaired phagocytosis but had no discernible effect on dengue virus immune complex infectivity. These findings point to fundamental differences between FcγRIA and FcγRIIA with respect to their immune-enhancing capabilities and suggest that different mechanisms of dengue virus immune complex internalization may operate between these FcγRs.