Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2013 Dec;20(3):123-130.

Measles Viral Infection in PD-1 Gene Knockout Mice

• Chun JK
• Kim KY
• Hur JA
• Kang DW
• Kim KH
• Kim DS

Abstract

PURPOSE
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegerative disease due to persistent measles virus infection. We investigated the role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule which is related with chronic viral infection in developing SSPE in mouse.
METHODS
We adopt the PD-1-/-, PD-1-/+, and wild type BALB/c 3 week old mice to make an animal model of SSPE by injecting measles virus (SSPE strain) intraventricularly. Three months after infusion of virus, the mice were sacrificed and examined if the typical pathologic lesions had been progressed. The sera were collected from each group of mice and the serum level of IL-21 was measured with ELISA kit.
RESULTS
The necrotic lesions on white matter and gliosis were found in focal areas in wild type BALB/c. The extent of lesion was smaller in heterotype BALB/c. Scanty lesions were found in PD-1-/- mice. The sera level of IL-21 was not elevated in all three groups.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that the PD-1 molecule may play a role in persistent viral infection.

Keyword

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis; Measles; Programmed death-1

MeSH Terms

Animals
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Gene Knockout Techniques*
Gliosis
Measles virus
Measles*
Mice*
Models, Animal
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
Viruses

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes of brain parenchyma by SSPE virus in 3 month-old wild type BALB/c. (A) No change was shown in wild mice which was not injected with virus (×200, Nissl staining). (B) Inflammatory changes were observed in the same age of wild mice which was injected with SSPE virus (×400, Nissl staining).

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of lesions according to PD-1 status. (A) Wild type mouse (×200, Nissl staining) (B) Hetero type mouse (×200, Nissl staining). The inflammation in the myelin portion is more serious in wild type mouse than in heterotype. (C) Wild type mouse (×200, GFAP staining). (D) KO mouse (×200, GFAP staining). The astrocytes are proliferated more in wild type mouse than in KO mouse.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of lesions among groups 3 months after SSPE virus was injected into ventricle. In wild type mouse, the necrotic changes and fibrosis are more prominent compared with PD-1 heterogroup or PD-1 KO group.

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