dengue on the cellular level

Okay, Kristen wrote on her blog a really interesting quote that may help me understand the disease a lot better.

"Dengue virus infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The immunopathological mechanisms that result in severe complications of dengue virus infection, i.e. dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), are important to determine. Primary dengue virus infections induce serotype-specific and serotype-cross-reactive, CD4+ and CD8+ memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In secondary infections with a virus of a different serotype from that which caused primary infections, the presence of cross-reactive non-neutralizing antibodies results in an increased number of infected monocytes by dengue virus--antibody complexes. This in turn results in marked activation of serotype cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ memory CTL. We hypothesize that the rapid release of cytokines and chemical mediators caused by T cell activation and by CTL-mediated lysis of dengue virus-infected monocytes triggers the plasma leakage and hemorrhage that occurs in DHF."

serotype - A group of closely related microorganisms distinguished by a characteristic set of antigens.
cytotoxic- a substance that has a toxic effect on certain cells
lymphocytes - Any of the nearly colorless cells found in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissues, constituting approximately 25 percent of white blood cells and including B cells, which function in humoral (pertaining to, or proceeding from a fluid of the body) immunity, and T cells, which function in cellular immunity.
antibodies- (just to make sure) Any of numerous Y-shaped protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary immune defense, each molecule and its clones having a unique binding site that can combine with the complementary site of a foreign antigen, as on a virus or bacterium, thereby disabling the antigen and signaling other immune defenses. (I think it basically means that antibodies can match the virus when it attacks the body. Meaning, the antigens knows what the virus needs in order to be broken down and calls for specific defenses from the immune system.)
monocytes - A large, circulating, phagocytic white blood cell, having a single well-defined nucleus and very fine granulation in the cytoplasm. Monocytes constitute from 3 to 8 percent of the white blood cells in humans.
cytokines -Any of several regulatory proteins, such as the interleukins and lymphokines, that are released by cells of the immune system and act as intercellular mediators in the generation of an immune response.
lysis - The gradual subsiding of the symptoms of an acute disease
plasma - the liquid part of blood or lymph, as distinguished from the suspended elements.

I still don't know what it means to have serotype-specific and serotype-cross reactive memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Okay, this is my translation... I may be incorrect:

Where it says, "In secondary infections with a virus of a different serotype..." I believe that it is saying: when a person gets a more serious version of a disease, they get the same virus, except the virus is made up of a different group of organisms containing its own antibodies. The presence of cross-reactive non-neutralizing antibodies from the second virus intensifies the condition already, since it does not "neutralize" the fight between the disease and the previous antibodies, but instead it mingles in the fight and pushes it on. The bleeding in the hemorrhagic fever is triggered from the rapid release of cytokines (it says they are kinds of mediators when it comes to an attack) and chemical mediators causedby T cell activation and by CTL-mediated lysis of dengue infected monocytes. I think it means: since there is an outpour of mediators passing through the cells, it triggers plasma (the liquid part of the blood) leakage and hemorrhage - thats what causes internal bleeding.

Well, if my translation is any good, it has definitely helped me understand the disease even better.

BTW! Thanks Kristen!!!