Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 142, 864-876, Copyright © 1975 by Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLES

Immunologic injury in measles virus infection. II. Suppression of immune injury through antigenic modulation

BS Joseph and MB Oldstone

Upon the addition of antibody to measles virus, measles virus antigens expressed on the surface of infected cells can be modulated from the cell's membrane in vitro. Removal of measles virus antigens from the surface of cells occurs relatively rapidly and is accompanied by a parallel reduction in the ability of antibody and complement to lyse these cells. Modulation of surface viral antigens can occur in the absence of cap formation and is fully reversible once measles virus antibodies are removed from culture medium. Protracted exposure of acutely infected cells to measles virus antibodies results in a population of cells that exhibit normal cytomorphology and growth behavior. These cells continue to express measles virus antigens internally, but not at the cell surface, and are refractory to immune lysis. Once antiviral antibody is removed, measles virus antigens again appear on the cell surface, giant cell and syncytial formation occur, and cell death follows. These observations may explain the persistence of virus in spite of a vigorous host antiviral immune response in certain chronic infections of man.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Permar, S. R., Griffin, D. E., Letvin, N. L. (2006). Immune Containment and Consequences of Measles Virus Infection in Healthy and Immunocompromised Individuals. CVI 13: 437-443 [Full Text]  
• Albrecht, P, Burnstein, T, Klutch, M., Hicks, H., Ennis, F. (1977). Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: experimental infection in primates. Science 195: 64-66 [Abstract]  

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search

TABLE OF CONTENTS