Related Experiment Videos
Measles virus infection of cerebral endothelial cells and effect on their adhesive properties
1Division of Molecular Biology, School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, UK.
Abstract:
Measles virus (MV) RNA is present in endothelial cells (Ec) in brain tissue from cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and relatively high titres of infectious virus are produced in human cerebral Ec in vitro. Infection of Ec at the blood-brain barrier could therefore provide the opportunity for entry of virus to the CNS. Adhesion of syngeneic splenocytes to MV infected murine (Balb/c) cerebral Ec is found to be upregulated. Increased expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, following virus infection at the blood-brain-barrier, may be an important mechanism in inducing inflammatory infiltration of the CNS in SSPE.
Insights
Measles virus (MV) infects brain endothelial cells (Ec), potentially enabling central nervous system (CNS) entry. This infection upregulates immune cell adhesion, suggesting a mechanism for CNS inflammation in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Measles virus (MV) RNA is detected in brain endothelial cells (Ec) of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) patients.
- Human cerebral Ec in vitro produce high titers of infectious MV.
- Ec infection at the blood-brain barrier may facilitate MV entry into the CNS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endothelial cells (Ec) in MV entry into the central nervous system (CNS).
- To explore the mechanism of CNS inflammation in SSPE.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MV RNA in brain tissue from SSPE cases.
- In vitro infection of human cerebral Ec with MV.
- Assessment of syngeneic splenocyte adhesion to MV-infected murine cerebral Ec.
Main Results:
- MV RNA is present in brain Ec from SSPE cases.
- Infectious MV is produced by human cerebral Ec in vitro.
- Adhesion of splenocytes to MV-infected murine cerebral Ec is upregulated.
- MV infection of blood-brain barrier Ec increases endothelial adhesion molecule expression.
Conclusions:
- Ec infection at the blood-brain barrier is a potential route for MV CNS entry.
- Upregulated endothelial adhesion molecules may drive inflammatory infiltration in SSPE.
- This study highlights a key mechanism in SSPE pathogenesis.