Cell-mediated immunity to measles virus in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Four patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were investigated for their specific cellular and humoral immunities against measles virus. Lymphocytotoxicity mediated by peripheral blood lymphocytes was evaluated with the colony inhibition test of target cells having measles antigen. The lymphocytes from two patients of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) specifically destroyed the carrier cells; however, no significant lymphocytotoxicity was observed in the other two patients. The result suggests the heterogeneity in cellular immune states in SSPE patients.