Measles virus infection of B lymphocytes permits cellular activation but blocks progression through the cell cycle.
Measles virus infection of unstimulated B lymphocytes suppresses both proliferation and differentiation into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. However, mitogenic stimulation of these infected cells results in cell volume enlargement, rapid RNA synthesis, and the expression of cell surface activation antigens 4F2, HLA-DS, and transferrin receptor. The cellular genes c-myc and histone 2B are induced during early G1 and S phase of the cell cycle, respectively, and viral RNA synthesis can be detected during this interval. However, total RNA synthesis is decreased at 48 h after stimulation, and the histone 2B RNA steady-state level at 48 h is fivefold less than that in uninfected cells. This sequence of events defines an arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle in measles virus-infected B cells.
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014775:Virus Activation
D000954:Antigens, Surface