Targeting glycolysis reduces infection and dampens inflammation in a host-directed therapy for dengue

Monocytes are the key mediators of inflammatory responses in virus patients, and are also the only blood cell type that supports productive infection both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we assessed how dengue infection alters the metabolic response of monocytes and affects ensuing inflammatory mechanisms. Using a glycostress assay, we showed that in vitro infected primary human monocytes by dengue virus and monocytes isolated from thrombocytopenic dengue patients, during critical stage of the disease, had increased glycolysis. Single cell transcriptomics revealed an enhanced expression of interferon-related genes and glycolytic genes in classical and intermediate monocytes of dengue patients with more pronounced thrombocytopenia. Targeting  glycolysis by 2-deoxy-glucose (2DG) reduced dengue infection and dampened pro-inflammatory cytokines in monocytes, both in vitro and in mouse models. Collectively, these results suggest that glycolysis could be a possible target for pharmaceutical intervention to regulate pathogenic host responses in dengue. Assessment on how dengue infection alters the metabolic response of monocytes and affects ensuing inflammatory mechanisms. >>> Submitter declares that the raw data will be deposited in the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA) due to patient privacy concerns. <<<