Decreased measles virus-neutralizing activity in sera from otosclerotic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Any kind of depressed systemic anti-measles reaction can lead to the induction of a local immune response in the inner ear and possibly to reactivation of bone turnover in this region.


METHODS
Different dilutions of sera were tested for neutralizing activity against a constant viral concentration. The ability of measles virus to infect and replicate in the cell monolayer was detected by enumeration of living and growing cells with a colored reaction.


RESULTS
Virus-neutralizing activity in the sera of patients with confirmed otosclerosis was significantly weaker than in that of healthy controls. When age- and sex-matched pairs were compared, the neutralizing activity in the healthy counterpart was higher in 5 cases. Nearly complete viral neutralization was achieved with samples containing inactivated complement and in IgG-containing fractions, but not in immunoglobulin-depleted samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study is consistent with measles virus participation at least in the initiation of some cases of otosclerosis.
Lolov
Stephan
S
Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. Stephan@lolov.com
Zarzalanova
Petya
P
Edrev
George
G
Kyurkchiev
Stanimir
S
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts