Abstract
Postinfectious encephalomyelitis (PE) is a well-known complication of viral infections such as measles, rubella or varicella. The pathogenesis of these complications is still unclear. The absence of infectious virus or viral antigens from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissues led to the assumption that PE might be a T cell-mediated autoallergic process resembling experimental autoallergic encephalitis (EAE).
In this study, we have investigated the local T cell response in 5 children with PE (2 × measles encephalitis, 1 × rubella encephalitis, 2 × varicella cerebellitis). T cells were directly cloned from CSF exudate cells by limiting dilution in the presence of irradiated feeder cells and IL-2. A variable proportion of T cell clones and lines was found to react specifically to viral antigens in either cytotoxicity or proliferative assays. Responses to brain antigens (myelin basic protein, galactocerebrosides, gangliosides) were not seen. These observations strongly argue against the autoallergic hypothesis. The results are much more compatible with the direct invasion of the CNS by the infecting viruses.
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Kreth, H., Hofmann, G. & Hashimoto, F. LOCAL T CELL RESPONSE IN POTINFECTIOUS ENCEPHALOHYELITIS. Pediatr Res 26, 510 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00066
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00066