Interferon production by cells infected with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) virus or measles virus

Background: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare progressive neurodegenerative encephalitis caused by some variants of measles virus (MV). The structure of SSPE virus in the brains of SSPE patients is different from that of MV. The difference in interferon (IFN) production between cells infected with SSPE virus and those infected with MV remains unclear.Methods: We measured the concentrations of IFN-α, β, γ, and λ1 (interleukin (IL)-29) from MV- or SSPE virus-infected B95a cells (a marmoset B-lymphoblastoid cell line).Results: SSPE virus-infected B95a cells produced significantly higher levels of IFN-α and λ1 than did MV-infected or mock-infected cells.Conclusion: Our results suggest that SSPE virus and MV induce different IFN production profiles.

► SSPE is a progressive neurodegenerative encephalitis caused by some variants of MV. ► The structure of SSPE virus in the brains of SSPE patients is different from that of MV. ► We measured the concentrations of IFN-α, β, γ, and λ1 from virus-infected cells. ► SSPE virus-infected cells produced significantly higher levels of IFN-α and λ1.