Measles virus and immunomodulation: molecular bases and perspectives.
Measles virus (MV) remains among the most potent global pathogens, killing more than 1 million children annually. The virus induces a profound suppression of immune functions that favours the establishment of, and aggravates the course of, secondary infections. By contrast, MV-specific immune responses are efficiently generated, and these clear the virus from the organism and confer a long-lasting immunity. As sensitisers of pathogen encounter and instructors of the adaptive immune response, professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells play a decisive role in the induction and quality of the MV-specific immune response. However, key features of immune suppression associated with MV are compatible with interference with APC maturation and function, and subsequent qualitative and quantitative alterations of T-cell activation.
Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 7, D-97078 Würzburg, Germany. s-s-s@vim.uni-wuerzburg.de
Sibylle
S
Schneider-Schaulies
Volker
V
ter Meulen
D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D011991:Receptors, Virus