In Vitro Effects of Measles Virus on Proliferating Human Lymphocytes

Abstract Addition of measles virus to human lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin-P or antigen in medium containing fetal calf serum depressed the usual proliferative response in cells of both measles-immune and measles-susceptible subjects. When antologous serum was used in the medium, measles virus-induced depression of proliferation was seen only in cells of measles-susceptible individuals. The latter finding suggests inhibition of the measles virus effect by anti-measles antibodies or other humoral factors in the serum of measles-immune individuals.