The increase in cholesterol levels at early stages after dengue virus infection correlates with an augment in LDL particle uptake and HMG-CoA reductase activity

• Cholesterol and lipid rafts increase early after DENV4 infection of Huh-7 cells.
• Augment in cholesterol correlates with an increase in LDLr on the surface of cells.
• Augment in cholesterol correlates with a lower phosphorylation level of HMGCoA-R.

Several cellular molecules and components, specifically, cholesterol and lipid rafts have been described as necessary elements for dengue virus entry and signaling in several human cells. Thus, changes in lipid rafts formation and cholesterol levels were evaluated. Here we report that the amount of total cholesterol and lipid rafts formation increase early after infection of Huh-7 cells. This augment correlates with an increase in the amount of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) on the surface of infected cells and also with a lower phosphorylation level of the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). None of the changes were observed in Huh 7 cells infected with VSV used as a control. These results suggest that dengue virus infection increases intracellular cholesterol levels at early times post infection by triggering the modulation of LDL particles uptake and the increase in the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase.