Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: measles virus matrix protein nucleic acid sequences detected by in situ hybridization.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is characterized by a hyperimmune state toward the polypeptides of measles virus except the matrix (M) protein. Using cloned (3H)-labeled complementary DNA probes for in situ hybridization, we found the M protein and nucleocapsid (NP) protein nucleotide sequences in glial cells and neurons of cryostat sections from two SSPE brains. In one SSPE brain, M protein was lacking, but the other measles polypeptides were present. IgG and IgM antibodies eluted from that brain lacked antibodies to M protein, but antibodies to other measles polypeptides were present. In SSPE brain, the viral M-protein defect is not a deletion of the M gene, but rather a block in gene expression.
D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008459:Measles virus / Q000032:analysis; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000378:metabolism*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C023587:protein M (glycoprotein)