Studies into the mechanism of measles-associated immune suppression during a measles outbreak in the Netherlands

Brigitta M. Laksono, Rory D. de Vries, R. Joyce Verburgh, Eline G. Visser, Alwin de Jong, Pieter L. A. Fraaij, Wilhemina L. M. Ruijs, David F. Nieuwenhuijse, Henk-Jan van den Ham, Marion P. G. Koopmans, Menno C. van Zelm, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus and Rik L. de Swart ()
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Brigitta M. Laksono: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Rory D. de Vries: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
R. Joyce Verburgh: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Eline G. Visser: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Alwin de Jong: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Pieter L. A. Fraaij: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Wilhemina L. M. Ruijs: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
David F. Nieuwenhuijse: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Henk-Jan van den Ham: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Marion P. G. Koopmans: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Menno C. van Zelm: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Rik L. de Swart: Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Measles causes a transient immune suppression, leading to increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. In experimentally infected non-human primates (NHPs) measles virus (MV) infects and depletes pre-existing memory lymphocytes, causing immune amnesia. A measles outbreak in the Dutch Orthodox Protestant community provided a unique opportunity to study the pathogenesis of measles immune suppression in unvaccinated children. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of prodromal measles patients, we detected MV-infected memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and naive and memory B cells at similar levels as those observed in NHPs. In paired PBMC collected before and after measles we found reduced frequencies of circulating memory B cells and increased frequencies of regulatory T cells and transitional B cells after measles. These data support our immune amnesia hypothesis and offer an explanation for the previously observed long-term effects of measles on host resistance. This study emphasises the importance of maintaining high measles vaccination coverage.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07515-0

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