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Brain endothelial cell infection in children with acute fatal measles

L M Esolen1, K Takahashi, R T Johnson

  • 1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|November 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Measles virus frequently infects brain endothelial cells during acute illness. This infection may be a key step in developing severe neurologic complications like encephalitis.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neurologic diseases are significant complications of measles.
  • The precise mechanisms of measles virus entry into the central nervous system (CNS) and its role in pathogenesis remain unclear.

Observation:

  • The study examined five autopsied cases of individuals who died from severe acute measles.
  • In situ hybridization and RT-PCR in situ hybridization techniques were employed to detect viral presence.
  • Immunoperoxidase staining was used to identify glial cell responses.

Findings:

  • Endothelial cell infection within the brain was consistently observed in all cases of acute fatal measles.
  • A reactive microgliosis, indicative of an inflammatory response, was detected in the brain tissue.
  • These findings highlight the frequent involvement of brain vasculature during measles infection.

Implications:

  • Endothelial cell infection in the brain may serve as a primary entry point for measles virus into the CNS.
  • This vascular infection could be crucial for the development of severe post-measles neurological conditions, including subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and measles inclusion body encephalitis.
  • The infected endothelial cells may also trigger immunologic reactions leading to post-measles encephalomyelitis.

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