Measles virus induces apoptosis in uninfected bystander T cells and leads to granzyme B and caspase activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures

Abstract

Measles virus-infected monocytes induce apoptosis in uninfected T cells, suggesting that infected monocytes probably interact via cell-surface molecules with uninfected T cells and induce apoptosis by indirect mechanisms. Apoptosis of the lymphocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of MV-induced immunosuppression and cell loss.