The land-scape of immune response to monkeypox virus
Heng Li,
Qi-Zhao Huang,
Hong Zhang,
Zhen-Xing Liu,
Xiao-Hui Chen,
Li-Lin Ye,
Yang Luo
Affiliations
Heng Li
Center of Smart Laboratory and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
Qi-Zhao Huang
Provincial Key Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Immunotherapy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
Hong Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 250033, Jinan, Shandong, China
Zhen-Xing Liu
Center of Smart Laboratory and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
Xiao-Hui Chen
Center of Smart Laboratory and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
Li-Lin Ye
Institute of Immunology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, PR China; Corresponding author: Institute of Immunology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, PR China.
Yang Luo
College of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, PR China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangjin Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 402260, PR China; Corresponding author: College of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, PR China.
Summary: Human monkeypox is a viral zoonotic smallpox-like disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and has become the greatest public health threat in the genus Orthopoxvirus after smallpox was eradicated. The host immune response to MPXV plays an essential role in disease pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. MPXV infection leads to skin lesions with the genital area as the main feature in the current outbreak and triggers a strong immune response that results in sepsis, deep tissue abscess, severe respiratory disease, and injuries to multiple immune organs. Emerging evidence shows that the immunopathogenesis of MPXV infection is closely associated with impaired NK-cell function, lymphopenia, immune evasion, increased antibodies, increased blood monocytes and granulocytes, cytokine storm, inhibition of the host complement system, and antibody-dependent enhancement. In this overview, we discuss the immunopathology and immunopathogenesis of monkeypox to aid the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies against monkeypox.
