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Journal of Virology, September 2004, p. 9666-9674, Vol. 78, No. 18
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.18.9666-9674.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, and Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada
Received 25 March 2004/ Accepted 10 May 2004
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Several laboratories, including ours, have reported that CD150 (SLAM) is a receptor for measles virus (11, 18, 41). SLAM is a 70-kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein found on activated T, B, and dendritic cells. SLAM has structural features that place it within the CD2 family, which includes CD2, CD48, CD58, 2B4, and Ly-9. Like other members of the CD2 family, SLAM has two extracellular domains, an N-terminal V-set domain and a membrane-proximal C2-set domain. Following the C2 domain is the transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail, which contains four potential phosphorylation sites, three of which are located in consensus SH2 docking sites (3, 32). SLAM is a homophilic molecule that self-associates with very low affinity, and, to date, it is believed that SLAM is its own ligand (10, 28, 42). Several functions have been attributed to SLAM. In general, it seems that SLAM is a modifier of T- or B-cell signals, with the final outcome of this modification dependent on the cell type, i.e., T cell or B cell, and the character of the initial signal (4, 6, 7, 16, 29, 35, 39). SLAM is expressed solely on activated lymphocytes and seems to play a role in maintaining a balance between a Th1 and Th2 immune responses. Measles virus infection may affect SLAM function and potentially cause the Th1-to-Th2 shift observed over the course of measles virus infection. It has been shown that an effective immune response to viral infections requires a repertoire of Th1 cells (24). To determine whether SLAM plays a role in the process of measles virus-induced immunosuppression, the effect of infection on SLAM expression and signaling is currently being examined in our laboratory.
In the present study, the down regulation of SLAM surface expression during measles virus infection was characterized. Using a vaccinia virus expression system, we showed that the presence of the H protein of measles virus was sufficient to reduce SLAM expression. It was also determined that two mechanisms are involved in H-induced down regulation of SLAM. First, biochemical analysis of SLAM in measles virus-infected cells indicated that SLAM transport to the cell surface could be inhibited by a specific interaction between H and SLAM in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Studies involving a mutant H protein that was expressed only in the ER confirmed that an ER retention mechanism was involved in H-induced down regulation of SLAM surface expression. We also showed that interactions between H and SLAM at the surface of infected cells could lead to SLAM down regulation and that the two mechanisms worked together to promote SLAM down regulation during infection.
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Antibodies and glycosidases. Monoclonal antibodies specific for CD150 were purchased from Advanced ImmunoChemical (clone IPO-3; Long Beach, Calif.) and Pharmingen (clone A12). The monoclonal antibody specific for CD46 (clone M75) was purchased from Seikagaku Corporation (Tokyo, Japan). Monoclonal antibodies recognizing H were purchased from Chemicon International (Temecula, Calif.). Rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against H and CD46 were produced in our laboratory as previously described (36). In addition, horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibodies and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated antibodies were purchased from Jackson Laboratories (West Grove, Pa.). Endoglycosidase H (Endo H) and N-glycosidase F (PNGaseF) were purchased from New England Biolabs (Beverly, Mass.) and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Rat anti-influenza hemagglutinin peptide tag (HA) affinity matrix and rat anti-HA-peroxidase antibodies were purchased from Roche Molecular Biochemicals. Rabbit anti-HA antibodies were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.).
Flow cytometry analysis of SLAM, CD46, and H molecules. Infected or noninfected 1A2 and B95-8 cells (2 x 106 cells/antibody incubation) were harvested, washed twice by centrifugation with fluorescence automated cell scanning (FACS) buffer (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS] containing 1% bovine serum albumin, 5 mM EDTA, and 0.1% sodium azide). The cells were then incubated with a 1:100 dilution of monoclonal antibodies against human SLAM, human CD46, or measles H protein for 30 min on ice. The cells were washed and incubated on ice with FITC-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG; heavy plus light chains) secondary antibodies for 30 min. Just before analysis, the cells were washed and resuspended in 0.5 ml of FACS buffer, and the assays were performed on a Becton Dickinson analyzer using FACScaliber software. Intracellular staining of the measles virus H protein (MVH) was performed with a BD Cytofix/Cytoperm kit (BD Biosciences Pharmingen) by paraformaldehyde fixation and saponin permeabilization.
Production of recombinant vaccinia viruses. Edmonston F, Edmonston H, Montefiore 89 H, and Edmonston HER proteins were cloned into the vaccinia virus vector pSC11 by using the SmaI cloning site. The measles virus proteins were amplified by PCR from cDNA of Vero or B95-8 cells infected with either Edmonston or Montefiore 89, respectively. The resulting PCR products were digested with SmaI and inserted into pSC11. Edmonston HER was cut out of the plasmid pCG-HER, which was kindly provided by R. Cattaneo, with PacI and inserted into pSC11. To produce recombinant vaccinia viruses, 143B Tk- cells were transfected with one of the four respective plasmids, pSC11-EdF, pSC11-EdH, pSC11-wtH, or pSC11-HER, followed by infection with wild-type vaccinia virus. Resulting virus supernatants were plaque purified three times and then amplified in 143B Tk- cells in the presence of 0.015 mg of bromodeoxyuridine/ml. Expression of the F or H protein by the recombinant viruses was analyzed by immunoblotting or FACS analysis.
Virus infections. 1A2 or B95-8 cells (6 x 106 cells for each time point) were infected with either Edmonston or Montefiore 89 measles virus at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5. At specified time points postinfection (p.i.), the cells were harvested and subjected to FACS analyses. 1A2 cells were infected with either wild-type vaccinia virus or recombinant vaccinia virus expressing Edmonston F, Edmonston H, Montefiore 89 H, or Edmonston HER at a MOI of 10. The cells were harvested 24 h p.i., and FACS analyses were performed. Sf9 cells were infected at a MOI of 1 for 24 h.
Immunoprecipitation experiments. Transfected and infected 293Tad cells were harvested, washed once with PBS, and resuspended in cell lysis buffer (50 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3% NP-40, and protease inhibitors). After a 30-min incubation period at 4°C, the lysed cells were centrifuged at 10,000 x g for 10 to 15 min at 4°C. The supernatant was precleared through incubation with previously washed protein G-conjugated beads for 1 to 2 h at 4°C. After a 5-min centrifugation at 10,000 x g, 30 µl of anti-HA affinity matrix (Roche) or 10 µl of anti-measles virus H monoclonal antibody (Chemicon) or 10 µl of an anti-CD46 monoclonal antibody (Seikagaku) was added to the supernatant, which was incubated overnight at 4°C. After incubation, protein G was added to the lysate, which contained the H or CD46 antibody, and incubated for 1 to 2 h at 4°C. Either the HA affinity tag matrix or the protein G-measles virus H or protein G-CD46 beads were centrifuged and washed with lysis buffer three to five times by centrifugation. The beads were then resuspended in reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) sample buffer and boiled for 5 min. After a 5-min spin, the supernatant was subjected to PAGE. The primary antibody was either an anti-HA antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (clone 3F10; Roche), a polyclonal H antibody, or a polyclonal CD46 antibody.
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FIG. 1. The surface expression of SLAM/CD150 is down regulated by measles virus infection. (A) Activated marmoset B-cell line B95-8 was infected with Montefiore measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., SLAM surface expression was analyzed by FACS. (B) Marmoset B95-8 cells were infected with Edmonston measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., SLAM surface expression was analyzed by FACS. (C) EBV-transformed human B-cell line 1A2 was infected with Montefiore measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., SLAM expression was analyzed by FACS. (D) Human 1A2 cells were infected with Edmonston measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., SLAM expression was determined by FACS. (E) Human 1A2 cells were infected with Montefiore measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., CD46 expression was analyzed by FACS. (F) Human 1A2 cells were infected with Edmonston measles virus. At 24 and 48 h p.i., CD46 expression was analyzed by FACS. Grey lines, mock-infected cells stained with the anti-SLAM antibody (A to D) or anti-CD46 antibody (E and F) and detected with the FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibody; black lines, mock-infected cells incubated with the FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody only; solid peaks, cells infected with Montefiore (A, C, and E) or Edmonston (B, D, and F) measles virus stained with the anti-SLAM antibody (A to D) or the anti-CD46 antibody (E and F), followed by an FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibody. Insets, levels of H protein expression on the surfaces of B95-8 and 1A2 cells infected with Montefiore 89 and Edmonston strains of measles virus following 48 h of incubation. The cells were stained with anti-measles H antibody, followed by FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody. The solid lines represent infected cells; the dashed lines represent mock-infected cells.
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FIG. 2. The expression of the measles virus H protein alone can down regulate surface expression of SLAM and CD46. Human 1A2 B cells were infected with vaccinia virus recombinants that expressed Edmonston F (Ed F), Edmonston H (Ed H), or Montefiore H (Wt H) proteins. FACS analyses of SLAM surface expression (A) and CD46 surface expression (B) were performed. Black line, 1A2 cells infected with wild-type vaccinia virus (VV) incubated with an FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody; gray line, 1A2 cells infected with wild-type vaccinia virus stained with a mouse anti-SLAM antibody (A) or mouse anti-CD46 antibody (B) and detected with an FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibody; solid peak, 1A2 cells infected with the indicated vaccinia virus recombinants, stained with a mouse anti-SLAM antibody (A) or mouse anti-CD46 antibody (B), and detected with an FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody. Infected 1A2 cells were stained for surface expression of the F and H proteins (black line) with a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for the F protein and a monoclonal antibody directed against measles virus H proteins (C). The dashed lines represent wild-type vaccinia virus-infected cells probed for expression of the F and H proteins.
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FIG. 3. Measles virus H protein and its receptor SLAM interact within the infected cell. Human 293Tad kidney cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-HA3, pcDNA3.1-CD48 SLAM-HA3, and pcDNA3.1-SLAM-HA3 expression vectors. At 36 h posttransfection, cells were infected with vaccinia control virus or measles virus. Following a 24-h infection, the cells were harvested and lysed. Proteins were immunoprecipitated (IP) with either a rat anti-HA tag antibody (3F10) affinity matrix or a mouse monoclonal anti-measles virus H antibody (MVH). (A) The samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with a peroxidase-conjugated anti-HA tag antibody. (B) The samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-measles virus H antibody. Arrows, measles virus H protein; asterisk, bands for rat IgG (3F10) heavy chain recognized by the goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody.
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To assess whether an ER retention mechanism contributes to the reduction of SLAM surface expression, a mutant Edmonston H protein that is translated and retained in the ER was expressed in SLAM+ cells. This mutant H (HER) contains five arginines directly after the initiating methionine and is retained in the ER (34). A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HER was constructed (vaccinia-HER), and expression of H in cells infected with this virus was restricted to the ER (Fig. 4F and G). The surface expression of SLAM on 1A2 cells was monitored via FACS analysis, 40 h after vaccinia-H and vaccinia-HER infection, with monoclonal antibodies directed against SLAM and H. In the presence of either H or HER, SLAM surface expression was reduced (Fig. 4A and B). However, the decrease in surface expression of SLAM due to HER was less than that caused by expression of Edmonston H (Fig. 4A and B). A similar analysis of CD46 expression showed that Edmonston H can cause the down regulation of CD46 surface expression but that the ER-retained version did not (Fig. 4B and D). Although Edmonston H migrated normally to the host cell plasma membrane, there was no expression of HER on the surfaces of these cells. FACS analysis of intracellular staining with monoclonal antibodies directed against H shows that HER was expressed inside the cell, as expected (Fig. 4E and F). When HER is expressed, only the Endo H-sensitive form of H was evident, which is indicative of its location in the ER (Fig. 4G).
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FIG. 4. Expression of a measles virus H that is retained in the ER induces SLAM down regulation. Human 1A2 B cells were infected with normal vaccinia virus, the vaccinia-EdH recombinant virus (V-EdH), or the vaccinia-EdHER recombinant virus for 36 h. These samples were subsequently split into two samples and analyzed by FACS and immunoblot detection. (A) FACS analysis of SLAM expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdH. (B) FACS analysis of SLAM expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdHER. (C) FACS analysis of CD46 expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdH. (D) FACS analysis of CD46 expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdHER. (E) FACS analysis of H expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdH. Inset, intracellular H staining of permeabilized cells with a monoclonal antibody specific for the H protein. (F) FACS analysis of H expression on 1A2 cells infected for 36 h with vaccinia-EdHER. Inset, intracellular H staining of permeabilized cells with a monoclonal antibody specific for the H protein. (G) Immunoblot analysis of measles virus H and HER expression in 1A2 cells. The 1A2 cells were lysed in SDS protein running buffer containing ß-mercaptoethanol and incubated with or without Endo H for 1 h at 37°C. The samples were then subjected to SDS-PAGE and probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-measles virus H primary antibody and detected with a peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody by enhanced chemiluminescence. Arrows, protein products derived from Endo H-resistant and Endo H-sensitive bands. The H protein that is retained in the ER (HER) is completely sensitive to Endo H digestion.
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FIG. 5. SLAM has a more rapid cell surface turnover rate than CD46. Human 1A2 B-cell lymphoma cells were treated with tunicamycin, which inhibits N-linked glycosylation and migration of newly synthesized SLAM to the cell surface. At the times indicated, FACS analyses of SLAM and CD46 expression were performed. The mean fluorescence intensity was measured by gating on live cells and was expressed as the relative percentage of steady-state receptor expression on 1A2 cells (0 h). The data shown are the averages of three independent experiments, with the error bars representing the standard deviations.
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FIG. 6. The presence of the measles virus H (MVH) protein in the ER slows or prevents the complex glycosylation of SLAM but not CD46. Human 293Tad embryonic kidney cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-SLAM-HA3 and either pCG, pCG-H, or pCG-HER. At 36 h posttransfection, cells were lysed and immunoprecipitated with anti-H, anti-CD46, or anti-HA tag antibodies. The resulting samples were left untreated () or treated with Endo H or PNGaseF (+). The samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE; transferred to nitrocellulose; probed with an anti-HA antibody, anti-H antibody, or anti-CD46 antibody; and detected with a peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody by enhanced chemiluminescence. (A) Lysates were immunoprecipitated (IP) with an anti-HA antibody, and the blots were probed with an anti-HA tag antibody. Expression of H or HER inhibits complex glycosylation of SLAM and maintains its sensitivity to Endo H. (B) Lysates were immunoprecipitated with a mouse monoclonal anti-CD46 antibody that recognized endogenous CD46. The blots were probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-CD46 antibody. Expression of H or HER did not inhibit the complex glycosylation of CD46, and the glycoprotein exhibited little or no sensitivity to Endo H. (C) Lysates were immunoprecipitated with a mouse monoclonal anti-MVH antibody, and the blots were probed with an anti-HA antibody. The SLAM receptor coprecipitates with MVH proteins, and HER expression prevents the complex glycosylation of SLAM and maintains its sensitivity to Endo H. (D) Lysates were immunoprecipitated with an anti-HA antibody, and the blots were probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-MVH antibody. MVH coprecipitates with SLAM and is partially sensitive to Endo H. (E) 293Tad cells were transfected with only pCG, pCG-H, or pCG-HER. Lysates were immunoprecipitated with a mouse monoclonal anti-MVH antibody, and the blots were probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-CD46 antibody as in panel B. Endogenous CD46 does not coprecipitate with MVH. (F) 293Tad cells were transfected with only pCG, pCG-H, or pCG-HER. Lysates were immunoprecipitated with a mouse monoclonal anti-CD46 antibody, and the blots were probed with a rabbit polyclonal anti-MVH antibody as in panel D. MVH does not coprecipitate with endogenous CD46.
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FIG. 7. Down regulation of SLAM and CD46 from the surfaces of 1A2 cells results from coincubation with Sf9 insect and Chinese hamster ovary (CHOP) cells that express measles virus H on their surfaces. (A) CHOP cells were transfected with pcDNA1.1-H. At 24 h after transfection, the CHOP cells were washed once with PBS, and 5 x 105 1A2 cells were added. FACS analysis of SLAM and CD46 expression on 1A2 cells was performed at 0 (gray line) and 24 h (solid peak) after coincubation. FACS analysis of H expression on the CHOP cells was also performed in the right graph using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes measles virus H. Gray line, cells transfected with pcDNA1.1; solid peak, cells transfected with pcDNA1.1-H. 1A2 cells were stained and gated for CD21, a marker specific for B cells. CHOP cells that express Edmonston H on their surfaces down regulate expression of CD46 and SLAM from the surfaces of human 1A2 cells. (B) Sf9 insect cells were infected with wild-type baculovirus or a recombinant baculovirus that expresses the Edmonston H protein. At 18 h after infection, the Sf9 cells were added to 1A2 cells at the ratios indicated. FACS analysis of SLAM expression on the 1A2 cells and H expression on the Sf9 cells was performed 24 h after coincubation. In the left column, the black line represents 1A2 cells stained with a goat anti-mouse secondary antibody, the gray line represents 1A2 cells coincubated with Sf9 cells infected with wild-type baculovirus and stained with mouse anti-human SLAM, and the solid peak represents 1A2 cells coincubated with Sf9 cells expressing H and stained with mouse anti-human SLAM. In the right column, the solid peak represents Sf9 insect cells expressing H protein stained with mouse anti-measles virus H and the gray line represents Sf9 insect cells infected with wild-type baculovirus stained with mouse anti-measles virus H.
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Several different viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), EBV, and measles virus can down regulate the surface expression of their cellular receptors during the process of infection (9, 15, 27, 33, 37, 38, 40). There are two major mechanisms by which this phenomenon can occur. These viruses can induce changes in the cell that cause increased internalization of the receptor (8, 15, 27, 48). Alternatively, the cellular receptor can be retained in the ER of an infected cell, thereby inhibiting the efficient transport of the cellular receptor to the cell surface (9, 19). For HIV, the main purpose of CD4 down regulation seems to be to enhance HIV replication and prevent superinfection of the cell (22, 25, 33). As a result, the virus utilizes both mechanisms to down regulate CD4 during infection. Reports indicate that the HIV-encoded protein Nef causes the rapid endocytosis of CD4, resulting in the degradation of the receptor in lysosomes (22, 25-27). It has also been reported that CD4 interacts with the gp160 protein of HIV in the ER of HIV-infected cells and that this interaction can inhibit the transport of CD4 to the cell surface (9, 19).
Unlike what is found for HIV, viral accessory proteins are not involved in measles virus receptor down regulation. The H protein solely mediates CD46 and SLAM down regulation. For measles virus, it has been shown that the surface expression of the cellular receptor CD46 can be down regulated by the expression of the H protein on adjacent cells. This process seems to require a Tyr-X-X-Leu motif in the membrane-proximal region of CD46 (15, 48). To date, the role that an ER retention mechanism plays in down regulation of measles virus receptors has not been considered.
To determine whether an ER retention mechanism plays a role in SLAM down regulation, a vaccinia virus that expressed an ER-retained H protein (vaccinia-HER) was constructed. Expression of H protein by both vaccinia-EdH and vaccinia-HER reduced SLAM surface expression in 1A2 cells. Surprisingly, the decrease observed with vaccinia-HER was less than that seen when cells were infected with vaccinia-EdH. This could be explained by the fact that both ER retention and receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanisms are functioning with vaccinia-EdH, yielding more-efficient down regulation of SLAM. In a parallel experiment, CD46 expression was unaffected following vaccinia-HER infection but was reduced by vaccinia-EdH infection. In addition, CD46 expression in 293Tad kidney cells transfected with pcDNA1.1-HER was unchanged, even at 72 h posttransfection. HER also did not coprecipitate with CD46 or inhibit its transport from the ER to the cell surface. Taken together, these data demonstrate that an ER retention mechanism plays a more important role in SLAM down regulation than in CD46 down regulation during measles virus infections.
H protein expression on CHOP and Sf9 cells in trans to adjacent 1A2 cells also led to the down regulation of both SLAM and CD46. However, this process did not yield total removal of SLAM from the cell surface. These data indicate that both ER retention and receptor-mediated endocytosis are likely involved in the down regulation of SLAM expression during measles virus infections. On the other hand, CD46 expression was reduced to a greater extent than that of SLAM during incubations with CHOP cells expressing H protein. This again suggests that ER retention plays a less important role than receptor-mediated endocytosis in CD46 down regulation. Future experiments will investigate the role and type of endocytosis involved in surface-mediated down regulation of SLAM and CD46. The processes of micropinocystosis, macropinocystosis, and caveola-dependent, clathrin-dependent, or caveola- and clathrin-independent endocytosis will be considered. Drugs such as chlorpromazine and dominant negative mutants could be used to dissect this process.
A major consequence of SLAM down regulation is the prevention of superinfection of the host cell by the incoming virus. Based on SLAM's known contributions to immune responses, there are several potential consequences of SLAM down regulation for host immunity. SLAM, a self-ligand, is expressed primarily on activated B cells, T cells, and dendritic cells (28). It is associated with a T-cell response that produces gamma interferon (IFN-
) and interleukin-12 (IL-12), also known to define a Th1-type cytokine profile (4, 6, 12). Engagement of SLAM on T cells in conjunction with T-cell receptor activation results in cellular proliferation and IFN-
production. It has also been demonstrated that cytotoxic-T-cell activity is induced under similar conditions. In B cells, it has been reported that SLAM stimulation induces cell proliferation and the secretion of Ig (35). Taken together, measles-induced down regulation of SLAM surface expression may have consequences for T-cell and B-cell proliferation and function. Interactions of measles virus with SLAM may help to establish the Th1-to-Th2 cytokine shift that is characteristic of infections with this virus. During measles, T-cell responses including IFN-
and IL-12 production are reduced and IL-4 levels are elevated (5, 14, 45). Although it has previously been reported that interaction of H with CD46 may impair the immune response by decreasing levels of IL-12 (20), an effect on SLAM+ cells by measles virus may also explain the impaired Th1 phenotype observed in infected patients. Additional in vivo studies and an increased knowledge of SLAM/CD150 signal transduction pathways are required to determine whether down regulation of this receptor contributes to the crippled immune response that is characteristic of measles virus infections (44).
The work presented in this article was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant MT-10638.
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