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Human In Vitro Suppression as Screening Tool for the Recognition of an Early State of Immune Imbalance
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Human In Vitro Suppression as Screening Tool for the Recognition of an Early State of Immune Imbalance

Published on: July 22, 2011

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Studies into the mechanism of measles-associated immune suppression during a measles outbreak in the Netherlands

Brigitta M Laksono1, Rory D de Vries1, R Joyce Verburgh1

  • 1Department of Viroscience, Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Nature Communications
|November 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Measles virus (MV) infection depletes memory lymphocytes in children, causing immune amnesia and long-term reduced host resistance. This highlights the critical need for high measles vaccination coverage to prevent these effects.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Measles virus (MV) infection induces temporary immune suppression, increasing susceptibility to secondary infections.
  • Experimental models in non-human primates (NHPs) show MV depletes memory lymphocytes, leading to immune amnesia.
  • A measles outbreak in an unvaccinated community offered a unique human study cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pathogenesis of measles-induced immune suppression in unvaccinated children.
  • To determine if MV infects and depletes memory lymphocytes in humans, similar to NHPs.
  • To understand the long-term effects of measles on host resistance and immune memory.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from children during measles prodrome.
  • Detection of MV-infected memory T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) and B cells in PBMCs.
  • Comparison of PBMC populations before and after measles infection, including frequency analysis of B cell subsets and regulatory T cells.

Main Results:

  • MV-infected memory CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells were detected in PBMCs of measles patients.
  • Frequencies of circulating memory B cells were reduced post-measles.
  • Frequencies of regulatory T cells and transitional B cells increased after measles infection.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the immune amnesia hypothesis in human measles infection.
  • Measles-induced immune suppression explains long-term impaired host resistance.
  • High measles vaccination coverage is crucial for maintaining population immunity and preventing immune amnesia.

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