Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cellular immunity in SSPE patients

  • Published:
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In vivo andin vitro tests were performed to detect any immunological abnormalities in SSPE patients (n=15). An unexpected high incidence of skin test anergy (about 40%) against 5 common skin test antigens was observed (candidin, streptokinase-streptodornase, mumps, PPD, trichophytin). All of these patients could, however, be successfully sensitized to 2,4-dinitrochlorbenzene (DNCB).

Other screening tests suggest that SSPE patients have normal subpopulations of lymphocytes in peripheral blood.

Specific cellular immunity was demonstrated by lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against [51Cr]-labelled target cells persistently infected with measle virus. Lymphocytes from all SSPE patients gave a vigorous response.

These results do not confirm Burnet's theory (Burnet, 1968) that SSPE patients have a specific defect of cell-mediated immunity against measles virus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, A., Strong, D. M., Sell, K. W., Thurman, G. B., Knudsen, R. C., Wistar, R. Jr., Grace, W. R.: Demonstration of a blocking factor in the plasma and spinal fluid of patients with suhacute sclerosing panencephalitis. J. exp. Med.139, 902–924 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burnet, F. M.: Measles as an index of immunological function. Lancet1968 II, 610–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisen, S. A., Wedner, H. J., Parker, C. W.: Isolation of pure human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes using nylon wool columns. Immunol. Commun.1, 571–583 (1972)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, L. B., Cline, M. J., Merigan, T. C.: The interaction of human macrophages and lymphocytes in the phytohemagglutinin stimulated production of interferon. J. clin. Invest.50, 744–753 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, L. B., Kreth, H. W., Herzenberg, L. A.: Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of human T and B-lymphocytes. II. Identification of the cell type responsible for interferon production and cell proliferation in response to mitogens. Cell. Immunol.12, 407–421 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerson, K. L., Haalam, R. H. A.: Subtle immunologic abnormalities in four boys with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. New Engl. J. Med.285, 78–81 (1971)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jabbour, J. T., Roane, J. A., Sever, J. L.: Studies of delayed dermal hypersensitivity in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Neurology (Minneap.)19, 929–931 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaeckell, Y. M., Grob, P. J., Kreth, H. W., Kibler, R., Meulen, V. ter: Transfer factor therapy in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. (In preparation)

  • Klajman, A., Sternbach, M., Ranon, L., Drucker, M., Geminder, D., Sadan, N.: Impaired delayed hypersensitivity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Acta paediat. scand.62, 523–526 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kreth, H. W., Herzenberg, L. A.: Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of human T and B-lymphocytes: I. Direct evidence that lymphocytes with a high density of membrane-bound immunoglobulin are precursors of plasmacytes. Cell. Immunol.12, 396–408 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Labowskie, R. J., Edelman, R., Rustigian, R., Bellanti, J. A.: Studies of cellmediated immunity to measles virus byin vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. J. infect. Dis.129, 233–239 (1974)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lischner, H. W., Grover, D. W., De Forest, A.: Proliferative response of lympho-cytes to measles antigen in tissue culture in SSPE. Proc. 4th Annual Leucocyte Culture Conference, O. R. McIntyre, Ed., pp. 565–666. New York: Appl.-Century-Crofts 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • McLennan, I. C. M.: Antibody in the induction and inhibition of lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Transpl. Rev.13, 67–90 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meulen, V. ter: SSPE and measles virus: current state of our knowledge. Neuropädiatrie4, 347–349 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meulen, V. ter, Enders-Ruckle, G., Müller, D., Joppich, G.: Immunhistological studies on encephalitides. III. Subacute progressive panencephalitis. Virological and immunhistological studies. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)12, 244–259 (1969)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meulen, V. ter, Katz, M., Müller, D.: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Curr. Trop. Microbiol. Immunol.57, 1–38 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizutani, H., Saito, S., Nihei, K., Izuchi, T.: Cellular hypersensitivity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. J. Amer. med. Ass.216, 1201–1202 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moulias, R., Goust, J. M., Reinert, Ph., Fournel, J. J., Deville-Chabrolle, A., Duong, N., Muller-Berat, C. N., Berthaux, P.: Faitens de transfer de l'immunite cellulaire. Nouv. Press Medicale2, 1341–1344 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulias, R. L., Reinert, Ph., Goust, J. M.: Immunological abnormalities in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. New Engl. J. Med.285, 1090 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norrby, E.: A carrier cell line of measles virus in Lu 106 cells. Arch. ges. Virusforsch.20, 215–224 (1967)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pirquet, C.: Das Verhalten der kutanen Tuberkulinreaktion während der Masern. Dtsch. med. Wschr.34, 1297–1300 (1908)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, M., Knowles, M., Chambers, M. E., Caspary, E. A.: Cellular and humoral responses to measles in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Lancet1969 I 72–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sell, K. W., Ahmed, A., Thurman, G. B., Strong, D. M.: Plasma and spinal fluid blocking factor in SSPE. New Engl. J. Med.288, 215–216 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, M. K., Grover, W. D., Huff, D. S.: Studies of immunological competence in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Clin. Res.19, 730 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Starr, S., Berkovich, S.: Effects of measles, gammaglobulinmodified measles and vaccine measles on the tuberculin test. New Engl. J. Med.270, 386–391 (1964)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thurman, G. B., Ahmed, A., Strong, D. M., Knudsen, R. C., Wistar, R., Jr., Grace, W. R.: Lymphocyte activation in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus and cytomegalovirus infections.In vitro stimulation in response to viral infected cells. J. exp. Med.138, 839–846 (1973)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valdimarsson, H., Agnarsdottir, G., Lachmann, P. J.: Personal communication

  • Vandvik, B., FrØland, S. S., HØyeraal, H. M., Stien, R., Degre, M.: Immunological features in a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with transfer factor. Scand. J. Immunol.2, 367–374 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Göttingen

    H. W. Kreth, Y. M. Kaeckell & V. ter Meulen

  2. Institute of Virology, Würzburg

    H. W. Kreth, Y. M. Kaeckell & V. ter Meulen

  3. Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Humboldtallee 38, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    H. W. Kreth

Authors
  1. H. W. Kreth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. M. Kaeckell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. ter Meulen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, AZ Me 270/10.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kreth, H.W., Kaeckell, Y.M. & ter Meulen, V. Cellular immunity in SSPE patients. Med Microbiol Immunol 160, 191–199 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02121726

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02121726

Keywords

Search

Navigation