Evasion of host defenses by measles virus: wild-type measles virus infection interferes with induction of Alpha/Beta interferon production

J Virol. 2000 Aug;74(16):7478-84. doi: 10.1128/jvi.74.16.7478-7484.2000.

Abstract

Measles is a highly contagious disease currently responsible for over one million childhood deaths, particularly in the developing world. Since alpha/beta interferons (IFNs) are pivotal players both in nonspecific antiviral immunity and in specific cellular responses, their induction or suppression by measles virus (MV) could influence the outcome of a viral infection. In this study we compare the IFN induction and sensitivity of laboratory-passaged attenuated MV strains Edmonston and Moraten with those of recent wild-type viruses isolated and passaged solely on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or on the B958 marmoset B-cell line. We report that two PBMC-grown wild-type measles isolates and two B958-grown strains of MV induce 10- to 80-fold-lower production of IFN by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) compared to Edmonston and Moraten strains of measles. Preinfection of PBL with these non-IFN-inducing MV isolates prevents Edmonston-induced but not double-stranded-RNA-induced IFN production. This suggests that the wild-type viruses can actively inhibit Edmonston-induced IFN synthesis and that this is not occurring by double-stranded RNA. Furthermore, the wild-type MV is more sensitive than Edmonston MV to the effect of IFN. MV is thus able to suppress the synthesis of the earliest mediator of antiviral immunity, IFN-alpha/beta. This could have important implications in the virulence and spread of MV.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Callithrix
  • Cell Division
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / biosynthesis*
  • Interferon-beta / biosynthesis*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology*
  • Measles Vaccine
  • Measles virus / classification
  • Measles virus / immunology*
  • Measles virus / pathogenicity*
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Measles Vaccine
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Interferon-beta