Related Experiment Videos
Demonstration of a blocking factor in the plasma and spinal fluid of patients with subacute sclerosing
Abstract:
Conflicting reports on the immune responsiveness of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) have been reported. This report shows that the leucocytes from four SSPE patients exhibited strong sensitivity to both measles and SSPE virus preparations as measured by the macrophage migration inhibition test, mixed lymphocyte virus infected cell culture test, and the lymphotoxin assay. Earlier suggestions that a factor may be operating to suppress cellular reactivity are confirmed by the demonstration that the response of lymphocytes from SSPE patients could be blocked by the addition of SSPE spinal fluid or plasma. It was determined that the blocking factor was stable at -20 degrees C, heat labile at 56 degrees C for 30 minutes, trypsin and neuraminadase sensitive, and had a mol wt greater than 150,000 as determined by Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography. The blocking factor appeared to be specific for SSPE virus and did not block the response of lymphocytes to nonspecific mitogenic agents and other viral and bacterial agents.
Insights
Patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) show immune cell sensitivity to measles and SSPE viruses. A blocking factor in SSPE spinal fluid or plasma suppresses this cellular reactivity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Conflicting reports exist regarding immune responsiveness in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
- Understanding cellular immunity in SSPE is crucial for disease management and therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune responsiveness of lymphocytes from SSPE patients.
- To identify and characterize factors that may suppress cellular reactivity in SSPE.
Main Methods:
- Macrophage migration inhibition test
- Mixed lymphocyte virus infected cell culture test
- Lymphotoxin assay
- Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography
Main Results:
- Leukocytes from SSPE patients demonstrated strong sensitivity to measles and SSPE virus preparations.
- Lymphocyte responses were significantly blocked by SSPE spinal fluid or plasma.
- The blocking factor was heat labile, trypsin and neuraminadase sensitive, with a molecular weight >150,000.
- The blocking factor exhibited specificity for SSPE virus.
Conclusions:
- SSPE patients exhibit specific cellular immune sensitivity to measles and SSPE viruses.
- A heat-labile blocking factor present in SSPE cerebrospinal fluid and plasma suppresses cellular immune responses.
- This factor is specific to SSPE virus, suggesting a targeted immune modulation mechanism in the disease.