Growth of Measles and Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Viruses in Human Neural Cell Lines

Abstract

Growth of cell‐free subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) virus was compared with that of measles virus in three human neural cell lines: neuroblastoma, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma. The Edmonston strain of measles virus replicated in these neural cells as efficiently as in Vero cells. In contrast, the growth of the Mantooth strain of SSPE virus was suppressed moderately in neuroblastoma cells and markedly in oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma cells in spite of the induction of apparent cytopathic effects in these cells. Virus adsorption, defective interfering particles, interferon, and temperature sensitivity were not responsible for this low yield of SSPE virus in neural cell lines. Synthesis of viral proteins of SSPE virus was slower than that of measles virus in oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma cells. These results suggest that the slow rate of synthesis of viral proteins may be relevant to the low yield of SSPE virus in neural cells.

In vitro and in vivo Properties of the Virus Causing Natural Canine Distemper Encephalitis

“…An overall repression of viral polypeptide synthesis was also found in combinations of brain cell lines (118 MGC glioblastoma and KG-1 oligodendroma) and the Mantooth strain of SSPE virus (Sakaguchi et al, 1984). A drastic reduction in M protein synthesis occurred in Vero cells infected with the Niigata-1 strain of SSPE virus due to defective translation (Carter et al, 1983).…”