Membrane proteins of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and measles viruses.

Abstract

SUBACUTE sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, slowly evolving disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which has been associated with measles virus infection. A measles-like virus (SSPE virus) has been isolated from SSPE brain and lymph node material. Also, patients with SSPE show a humoral hyperimmune reaction against measles virus. These findings implicate measles virus as a possible aetiologic agent in this disease; however, they do not explain the pathogenicity of SSPE1,2. Additional factors, either host or virus derived, must have a pathogenetic role, as rarity and rural prevalence of SSPE cannot be correlated to the ubiquitous measles virus infection2. Indeed, biological, ultra-structural and biochemical investigations3–5 have indicated minor differences between SSPE and measles virus strains. On the basis of these findings, we have analysed the mRNAs of these viruses from infected cells and compared the antigenic properties of membrane (M) proteins isolated from purified SSPE (leukoencephalitis (LEC) ) viruses with those of measles (Edmonston) viruses. The results presented here show differences among the M proteins as well as the pattern of mRNAs of these viruses. The findings allow differentiation between these viruses and indicate that SSPE viruses are related but not identical to measles virus.