Measles Virus Infection in Adults Induces Production of IL-10 and Is Associated with Increased CD4⁺CD25⁺ Regulatory T Cells¹ Free

Measles virus (MV)⁵ is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen that causes systemic disease; most individuals recover with lifelong immunity to MV. Enormous progress toward measles elimination has been made worldwide, including China, in large part due to the availability of a safe and effective vaccine (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). However, measles infections still cause 500,000 deaths annually, mostly due to subsequent opportunistic infections associated with immunosuppression (3). Widespread vaccination may lead to an increase in the average age at infection (2); recent data from China (1) and other countries (6, 7) support this hypothesis. With more infections in higher age groups, increased incidence of severe disease and even fatalities may follow (8). A large proportion of adult measles patients in China present with diarrhea, pneumonia, and liver dysfunction (9, 10, 11) and may have immune responses different from those in children.

MV infection is accompanied by severe suppression of both innate and adaptive immune response that may last for months (12) and is probably caused via multiple mechanisms (13). MV reduces proliferation of innate effector cells, including macrophages, NK cells, and neutrophils in cultured PBMC (14), in measles infection in children (15, 16), and in animal models (17, 18). MV infection also results in reduced lymphocyte numbers in children (19), in young adults (20), in cultured PBMC (21), and in animal models (17).

Following MV infection in children, an early Th1 response characterized by high levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 is quickly succeeded by a prolonged Th2 or mixed Th1/Th2 response characterized by IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α, with elevated IL-10 levels persisting (19, 22). Elevated levels of plasma IL-10 probably contribute to impaired cellular immunity and depressed hypersensitivity responses following MV infection (19). The primary cellular source of IL-10 in MV infection is not clear, although various cell types, including neutrophils and monocytes (19, 23), have been suggested. Interestingly, IL-5 is either absent (24) or decreased during MV infection (19), probably reflecting varying levels of baseline IL-5 and eosinophilia. Cells infected with clinical strains of MV, but not vaccine strains, display nearly complete suppression of IFN-α-induced antiviral state probably due to the activities of proteins encoded by the MV P gene (25).

Regulatory T cells (Treg) have gained recognition in recent years as important mediators of immunosuppression in disease, but they have not been investigated in MV infection to date. Treg have been shown to suppress T cell responses leading to reduced viral clearance and establishment of conditions favorable for opportunistic infections (26); additionally, Treg are able to secrete IL-10 in disease states and may have a role in the immunosuppression observed in MV infection.

In the current study, we show that analogous to the observations in children, innate responses were suppressed in adult acute measles patients, and that IL-10, IL-2, and IFN-γ were elevated. In contrast, total T lymphocytes were not reduced in the adult measles patients in our study, although monocyte/macrophage populations were significantly decreased. We show for the first time that Treg (CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low) are increased in adult measles patients. Using intracellular cytokine staining, we also show that CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and CD14⁺ monocyte/macrophages contribute to the production of IL-10.

Samples from 40 measles patients and 25 healthy subjects were used in this study. Patients admitted to Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center during the measles epidemic seasons of 2006 and 2007 were enrolled in this study with consent. A blood sample was collected at hospital admission, and a self-administered questionnaire (including demographic information, vaccination history, and clinical symptoms) was filled out by the patients with help from attending clinicians. Blood samples from age- and sex-matched anonymous adult blood donors reporting to the Shanghai Red Cross blood center were used as healthy controls; measles infection and vaccination history were not recorded.

Plasma and PBMC were separated from venous blood by standard Ficoll-Hypaque (Accuspin System-Histopaque; Sigma-Aldrich) centrifugation. Heparinized blood was mixed with 2 vol of prewarmed PBS (pH 7.4) and subjected to Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation at 800 × g for 15 min. Plasma samples were aliquoted and stored at −80°C until needed. PBMC were also collected, transferred to a fresh tube, and washed twice in prewarmed PBS. Cells were counted, resuspended in RPMI 1640 (Sigma-Aldrich) freezing media containing 10% DMSO (Sigma-Aldrich) and 10% FBS (Invitrogen), frozen at −80°C overnight, and stored in liquid nitrogen until needed.

Cryopreserved cells were thawed by a modification of a previously published procedure (27). Cells were quick thawed and diluted for a period of 5 min with a 10-fold excess of 10% FBS in RPMI 1640 prewarmed to room temperature. After centrifugation at 300 × g for 5 min, the cell pellet was gently resuspended and washed with an equal volume of PBS prewarmed to room temperature. After centrifugation, cells were resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium containing FBS and incubated at 37°C in 5% CO₂ for 2 h before use.

MV was isolated from one of the patient samples using standard protocols and was used throughout the study (28, 29). In brief, a sample of patient urine (50–100 ml) was centrifuged (1500 rpm, 30 min) within 4 h of collection, the pellet resuspended in virus transport medium (DMEM containing 2% FBS, with 1000 U/ml penicillin and 1000 μg/ml streptomycin), and used to inoculate semiconfluent Vero-SLAM cell monolayers grown in DMEM containing 10% FBS. After adsorption at 37°C for 2 h, inoculum was replaced with fresh DMEM containing 2% FBS and incubated at 37°C in 5% CO₂ atmosphere. Cells were observed for cytopathic effect daily until extensive cytopathic effect (50–75% monolayer affected) was observed. Cells were lysed by freeze-thaw cycles and cellular debris removed by centrifugation at 6000 rpm for 10 min. The supernatants were passed through a 0.22-μm filter, aliquoted, and stored at −80°C as virus stock. A control uninfected Vero-SLAM lysate was prepared similarly. Multiplicity of infection (MOI) was based on the viral titer of the stock preparation as determined by standard assays (30).

PBMC were cultured in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin (Sigma-Aldrich) and 10% FBS at 10⁶ cells/well in triplicate wells of 24-well microtiter plates for all assays. MV or control Vero-SLAM lysate was added at indicated MOI, and the cultures were incubated at 37°C in 5%. The cell culture medium was replaced with fresh RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS 2 h later, followed by incubation for indicated times. Cell supernatants were collected and cells lysed with RNAzol (Biotex Laboratories); both supernatants and cell lysates were stored at −80°C before use.

Measles IgM Ab was assayed in all serum samples using a commercial measles IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (ELISA capture assay, MV IgM Ab diagnostic kit; Haitai Bio-product Company) as recommended by the manufacturer. All kit components were prewarmed to room temperature, plasma was diluted 1/100 with dilution buffer, and 100 μl of each diluted sample (or control) was used per well in duplicate. All subsequent steps were performed at 37°C. After 1-h incubation, wells were washed three times followed by the addition of 50 μl of HRP conjugate solution to each well and incubation for 1 h. Wells were washed and incubated for 10 min in the dark with the substrate solution. Reaction was stopped and absorbance at 450 nm estimated within 5 min. A blank sample containing only the substrate and stop reagents was also included and used to calibrate the plate reader. Any sample with value of OD_sample/OD_{negative control} ≥ 2.1, was defined as measles IgM Ab positive. A confirmed case of measles infection was defined as one having tested positive for measles IgM in an individual who received no measles vaccination within the previous month.

Plasma IFN-α production was detected in samples using a commercial IFN-α (human) Serum Sample ELISA kit (PBL Biomedical Laboratories), using the high sensitivity protocol according to the manufacturer’s recommendations; IFN-α levels were determined by comparison with a standard curve.

CBA for Th1/Th2 cytokines in plasma or culture supernatants were performed as per manufacturer’s recommendations (Falcon; BD Biosciences). Six bead populations with distinct fluorescence intensities coated with capture Abs specific for IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were mixed and added to each assay tube, followed by PE detection reagent and cell culture supernatant or plasma. Mixtures were incubated at room temperature for 3 h in the dark, washed, and then analyzed using flow cytometry. The data were analyzed using the BD CBA Analysis software. The individual cytokine concentration of each test sample was calculated by reference to a standard curve. Assay sensitivity: IL-2, 2.6 pg/ml; IL-4, 2.6 pg/ml; IL-5, 2.4 pg/ml; IL-10, 2.8 pg/ml; TNF-α, 2.8 pg/ml; IFN-γ, 7.1 pg/ml.

Cryopreserved cells were thawed as described above and cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS for 2 h. Cells were harvested from cultures, washed with ice cold PBS containing 2% FBS, and resuspended in 100-μl staining buffer (PBS containing 2% FBS), followed by a staining mixture consisting of anti-CD3-PerCP, anti-CD14-allophycocyanin, anti-CD4-FITC, anti-CD25-PE, and anti-CD127-PE-Cy7; or anti-CD3-PerCP, anti-CD4-FITC, and anti-CD8-PE, using 10 μl (Abs obtained from BD Biosciences) or 20 μl (Abs obtained from eBioscience) of each mAb. Control staining combinations included mixtures of IgG1 conjugated to each of the above fluorochromes or IgG2a-allophycocyanin. Anti-CD3-PerCP and anti-CD14-allophycocyanin were purchased from BD Pharmingen, and anti-CD4-FITC, anti-CD25-PE, anti-CD8-PE, and CD127-PE-Cy7 were purchased from eBioscience. After 30-min incubation at room temperature in the dark, cells were collected by centrifugation at 300 × g for 5 min, washed twice, resuspended in 500-μl staining buffer, and then analyzed. Cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage were identified after gating on global peripheral blood cells. CD4⁺CD25⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low T cells were identified after gating on CD3⁺ cell blasts. Flow cytometric analysis was done using a FACSAria with FACSDiva Software (BD Biosciences) and 30,000 events were acquired for each measurement. The data are presented as absolute number of respective cells in 30,000 PBMC unless otherwise stated.

PBMC from healthy donors were cultured in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS at 10⁶ cells/tube and incubated with MV or Vero-SLAM lysate at MOI = 1. Inoculum was replaced with fresh RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS after 2-h incubation. Cells were cultured for 3 days followed by treatment with PMA (10 ng/ml; Sigma-Aldrich), ionomycin (1 μg/ml; Sigma-Aldrich), and brefeldin A (10 μg/ml; eBioscience) for 3 h. Cells were surface labeled with a staining mixture containing anti-CD3-PerCP, anti-CD4-FITC, and anti-CD25-PE, or with anti-CD14-PE alone followed by permeabilization for 15 min with 100 μl of permeabilization buffer (eBioscience), and incubation in anti-IL-10-Alexa Fluor 647 (eBioscience) for 30 min. Four-color FACS acquisition and analysis were performed as described above. PBMC isolated from patient blood were cultured for 2 h in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS and treated with PMA, ionomycin, and brefeldin A, followed by processing for intracellular cytokine staining as for PBMC from healthy donors.

RNA was extracted from PBMC with RNAzol B followed by reverse transcription using random hexamers and SuperScript II Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen) according to manufacturer’s protocol. Previously described primer sets (28, 31) were used to amplify specific fragments of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IFN-α, and β-actin (primers and the cycling parameters used are listed in Table I). PCR products were visualized on a ChemidocXRS imaging system (Bio-Rad) following gel electrophoresis and staining with ethidium bromide; product size was estimated with comparison to a 500-bp marker (Invitrogen). The amount of PCR product relative to β-actin was estimated by measurement of the intensity of the band of PCR product using the shareware ImageJ 1.62. To account for intergel and the considerable interpatient variability, we used a 2-fold normalization system to estimate relative cytokine expression levels. The luminescence index was calculated by dividing the sample luminosity value by the luminosity of the corresponding DNA marker band. The relative ratio was calculated by dividing the cytokine luminescence index by the corresponding β-actin luminescence index.

All data were processed by SPSS for Windows version 11.5. Differences in age and gender ratio between patients and healthy donors and cell numbers between patient and healthy donors were analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis χ² test. Differences in cytokine mRNA and plasma production between patients and subjects were analyzed using Student’s t test. Differences in cytokine mRNA and protein production between MV- and mock-treated cells were analyzed using paired t test. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between patients’ plasma IL-10 levels and three different peripheral cell numbers followed by regression analysis to fit the data to a curve. Significance was accepted at p ≤ 0.05.

The general information regarding measles patients and healthy controls, including the clinical symptoms, is listed in Table II. The median age of the patients (35 years; interquartile range (IQR), 28–43 years) did not differ from that of healthy controls (36 years; IQR, 27.25–41 years; p = 0.43, Kruskal-Wallis X² test). About half (50%) of the patients and healthy controls (52%) were male (p = 0.97, Kruskal-Wallis χ² test). The median number of days of prodrome was two (IQR, 1–3 days), and the median number of days of rash at study entry was 4.5 (IQR, 3–6 days). Seventy percent (95% Confidence Interval for Mean [95% CI], 52–83%) of patients presented Koplik spot in their mouth mucosa; 77.5% (95% CI, 64–91%) developed conjunctivitis; 57.5 (95% CI, 39–71%), 57.5 (95% CI, 41–74%), and 20% (95% CI, 7–33%) had bronchitis/pneumonia, vomit/diarrhea, and liver dysfunction, respectively. All patients recovered completely.

In separate studies, MV has been reported to either induce IFN-α production (32) or suppress IFN-α biosynthesis (25). MV was isolated from urine of one of the patients described above and used to infect control PBMC in cell culture. PBMC were treated with MV (MOI = 1) or Vero-SLAM lysate (mock), and samples (cell lysate and culture supernatant) were collected at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after treatment. IFN-α mRNA levels in MV-treated cells remained lower than mock-treated cells at all times and were significantly different on days 1 and 3 (p = 0.009; Fig 1,A). The observed suppression of IFN-α was not donor specific, because a similar suppression was observed when PBMC from five different control donors were treated with MV and samples analyzed 24 h later (p < 0.001; Fig. 1 B). Our results suggest that IFN-α suppression occurs early in MV infection and is a characteristic of the virus, not the host.

IFN-α mRNA expression was significantly suppressed in patient PBMC compared with healthy controls (p < 0.0001; Fig 1 C), correlating with undetectable plasma IFN-α levels in patients (data not shown). Our data are in agreement with other studies showing inhibition of IFN-α/β by MV, presumably through the actions of V and C proteins (25).

Changes in the pattern of Th1-and Th2-type cytokine expression in the course of MV infection have variously been shown to be either a Th1 to Th2 shift (19, 22), a predominantly Th1 state (33), or a mixed Th1/Th2 pattern (6). The cytokine profile induced by treatment of PBMC with MV was investigated. Control PBMC were treated with MV clinical isolate or mock-treated and samples analyzed for IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α 1, 3, 5, and 7 days later. The expression of all cytokines tested peaked at day 1, (Fig. 2, A and B) coincident with the observed inhibition of IFN-α (see Fig 1,A); IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 were increased whereas TNF-α was decreased in MV-infected compared with mock-infected samples (IFN-γ and IL-4, p < 0.01 vs controls; IL-10, p = 0.002; TNF-α, p = 0.04; Fig. 2, A and B). Interestingly, the level of IL-10 remained significantly higher in MV-infected samples compared with mock-infected controls for the duration of the experiment. Expression of IL-2 was also investigated, but the level in mock-treated samples was undetectable in our assay, precluding quantification, and is not shown. The secretion of cytokines in supernatant was delayed relative to gene expression (Fig. 2 C) and was maximal at day 3 (IL-2), day 5 (TNF-α, IFN-γ), or day 7 (IL-10). IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly increased in MV-treated relative to mock-treated cells; there was no difference in IL-4 and IL-5 levels (not shown). Interestingly, expression and secretion of IL-10 was significantly higher in MV-treated samples at all times tested except day 1. The pattern of cytokine expression and secretion was not donor dependent, because a similar pattern was observed in PBMC from five different healthy controls (data not shown).

We analyzed the mRNA and protein levels of IL-2, IFN-γ (Th1), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 (Th2), and TNF-α in patient samples (Fig. 2, D and E). Patients had elevated IL-2 (p < 0.001), IL-4 (p < 0.0001), IL-10 (p = 0.019), and IFN-γ (p = 0.001) mRNA expression, reduced IL-5 expression (p < 0.001, not shown), and unchanged TNF-α expression compared with healthy controls (Fig. 2,D). IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ were significantly increased in patient plasma compared with controls (Fig. 2 E), but plasma levels of IL-4, IL-5 (not shown), and TNF-α were similar in the two groups (IL-4: p = 0.298; IL-5: p = 0.830; TNF-α: p = 0.057).

To determine the kinetics of production of IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ during infection, we grouped patient samples on the basis of the day of collection after rash onset; there was an increase in all three cytokines early in infection (<3 days after rash onset) followed by a second IL-2 peak a week later; IL-10 and IFN-γ increase was sustained over the 2-wk period (Table III).

Data shown in Fig. 2 and Table III suggest that the overall cytokine profile of adult measles patients is similar to that observed in children: IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-10 being high, with the latter two sustained over the period of at least 2 wk. Together, Figs. 1 and 2 show that MV infection leads to inhibition of IFN-α, and a mixed Th1/Th2 response with IL-10 and IFN-γ being significantly enhanced.

Previous studies (22, 34) have shown that MV infection leads to a decline in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in pediatric patients, starting before the onset of rash and lasting up to a month; this decline in cell number was less severe in adult patients. Our FACS data suggest that the absolute CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T lymphocyte numbers are similar between healthy controls and measles patients (Fig. 3, A–C). Interestingly, the proportion of CD4⁺ cells within the CD3⁺ cell population was significantly reduced as compared with healthy controls (means: 62% in patients, 51% in controls, p = 0.002), perhaps due to an increase in total CD3⁺ T cell population, which includes CD3⁺CD4⁻CD8⁻ T cells.

Macrophages are important in MV infection as major vectors for dissemination of MV infection (35) and as a potential source of IL-10 (19). FACS analysis showed that the number of CD14⁺ cells in patient PBMC was significantly lower than that in healthy controls, (Fig. 4, A and B).

FACS analysis showed that there was a significant increase in CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cell number in PBMC of measles patients compared with healthy controls (Fig. 5,A, left panels and B, left histogram). To differentiate Treg from activated T cells that also express CD25 on their cell surface, we determined the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low cells in PBMC from measles patients and healthy donors (36). There was a significant increase in CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low T cells in PBMC of measles patients compared with healthy controls (Fig. 5 A, right panels and B, right histogram). There was no significant difference in the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low within the total CD4⁺CD25⁺ population between patients and controls (p = 0.481).

As a first step to identify the phenotype of the cells that may be the cellular source of IL-10, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and CD14⁺ cell numbers were analyzed for their association with plasma IL-10 levels using Pearson correlation, and the data were fitted to a curve using regression analysis. There was a positive correlation between patients’ plasma IL-10 level and CD14⁺ cell number (Fig. 6, upper graph) and between IL-10 and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (Fig. 6, middle graph), but no correlation between CD4⁺ T cells and plasma IL-10 levels (Fig. 6, lower graph).

Monocyte/macrophages have been implicated as the cellular source of IL-10 in measles patients (37), and recent studies have shown that CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg secrete IL-10 and can be a major mediator of immune suppression in infection (38, 39). To determine whether CD14⁺ monocyte/macrophages and/or CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells could be responsible for the elevated plasma IL-10, and whether MV treatment results in an increase in their cell number, we treated PBMC from healthy donors with MV (MOI = 1) or Vero-SLAM cell lysate (mock) followed 3 days later by PMA, ionomycin, and brefeldin A stimulation for 3 h before FACS analysis (Fig. 7). Following stimulation, IL-10-secreting CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells increased significantly in MV-treated compared with mock-treated PBMC (Fig. 7,A). The proportion of IL-10-secreting CD14⁺ cells was also significantly higher in MV-treated than in mock-treated PBMC (Fig. 7 B).

To confirm results obtained from the in vitro study, we conducted intracellular staining of IL-10 in CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and CD14⁺ cells in patient PBMC (Fig. 8). IL-10-secreting CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were increased in patient compared with control PBMC (p = 0.054; Fig. 8,A), whereas significantly higher numbers of CD14⁺ cells in patient PBMC secreted IL-10 compared with control PBMC (Fig. 8 B). A higher proportion of patient CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (29%, IQR, 23–32%) than CD14⁺ cells (6%, IQR, 4–10%) secreted IL-10 (p < 0.0001).

We have examined the immune status of adult measles patients in Shanghai and found that in the acute stage of disease, patients have suppressed IFN-α and a mixed Th1/Th2 response with significant increases in IFN-γ and IL-10 production. We show for the first time that adult measles patients, like children, have sustained high IL-10 levels; IL-10 is secreted by both monocytes/macrophages and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells. We also show for the first time that CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg are increased in PBMC of adult measles patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed study to investigate the cytokine expression and secretion induced by natural measles infection in adults.

MV passage history has been shown to influence its ability to induce type I IFN (40); Vero cell-adapted MV is a strong IFN-α inducer (41), whereas wild-type MV almost completely suppresses IFN-α production (25). The clinical isolate of MV used in this study was a strong IFN-α suppressor both in vivo and in cell culture.

Cytokines play critical roles in regulating the outcome of Ag-specific T cell responses. In our study, MV infection primed a transient IL-2 secretion, as well as a robust plasma IFN-γ and IL-10 production that lasted for 2 wk after rash onset. An increase in IFN-γ in measles-infected children compared with healthy controls has been observed in other studies and may serve to inhibit viral growth and limit the spread of infection (42). However, in contrast to our findings of sustained increase, these studies have found a transient increase in both IL-2 and IFN-γ, lasting for a few days following rash (19, 22), followed by sustained IL-4 production (19). We did not find any increase in IL-4 secretion in adult patient plasma. A similar response was observed when a clinical isolate of MV was used to infect PBMC; an early IL-4 gene induction that was not reflected in protein secretion may be due to uptake of secreted IL-4 by cells, and does not necessarily reflect lack of protein production. Similar findings have been reported in a study where PBMC from previously immunized adults were infected with MV. All subjects produced IFN-γ, and in subjects who produced both IFN-γ and IL-4, maximal IFN-γ production in vitro always greatly exceeded that of IL-4 (43).

Th1 responses with high levels of IFN-γ have variously been shown to be protective against pathogens (44) or to lead to enhanced inflammation (45). Previous work has shown that PBMC from children produce lower levels of IFN-γ when infected with MV than adult PBMC (46), perhaps a result of limited cellular immunity in infants. The sustained IFN-γ secretion in plasma of adult measles patients in this study may have implications for virus clearance, enhanced tissue inflammation, and the observed disease severity.

There did not appear to be any difference in IL-5 secretion between patients and healthy controls and also MV-infected and noninfected PBMC; we did observe a decrease in IL-5 gene expression in patients. In Zambian children plasma IL-5 levels were lower in patients compared with controls (19). In contrast, a significant up-regulation of IL-5 mRNA has been reported among seropositive adult donors after vaccination (47). The role of IL-5 in MV infection is not clear and data may be complicated by the underlying allergic status of the subjects.

Interestingly, we did not observe a general decrease in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in adult measles patients, although there was a trend toward lower levels compared with healthy donors. Our data are in agreement with a previous report from Japan showing reduction of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in acute measles; the reduction was significantly more severe in children than in adults as compared with age-related matched controls (34). We observed an increase, albeit insignificant, in the total CD3⁺ T cells in patient PBMC compared with controls, possibly due to expansion of a CD3⁺CD4⁻CD8⁻ T cell subset that defines a double negative Treg phenotype (48). Double negative Treg inhibit immune responses by directly killing effector T cells in an Ag-specific fashion, and produce IFN-γ and TNF-α in addition to other cytokines. Further detailed investigations are needed to determine what role these cells may play in MV pathology.

There was a significant reduction in total number of CD14⁺ monocytes/macrophages in patients compared with controls. MV is known to infect monocytes/macrophages and may directly induce production of IFN-γ or IL-10. Stimulation of monocytes by differentiating agents such as IFN-γ leads to marked down-regulation of CD14 expression (49), and cells might migrate to the sites of MV-induced rash, which may lead to the observed reduction in cell number in PBMC.

Interestingly, there was a significant increase in CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells. Recently, it was shown that low surface expression of CD127 is inversely correlated with FoxP3 expression, and in combination with surface expression of CD25 it can distinguish between human regulatory and conventional CD4⁺ T cells in human blood (36, 50). We have used this information to analyze the Treg population within total CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and show that Treg were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of adult measles patients compared with healthy controls.

This is the first report of increased Treg in measles patients; Treg may have a role in the observed immunosuppression. Treg act to prevent infection-induced immunopathology or to sustain pathogen persistence by suppressing protective Th1 responses (51). Both natural and inducible IL-10-producing Treg affect the magnitude of antiviral immunity, contributing in some instances to viral persistence and chronic disease (26).

Sustained high levels of IL-10 during convalescence suggest a role for this immunoregulatory cytokine in MV-induced immunosuppression. Similar to the observations in this study, plasma levels of IL-10 remained elevated for weeks in children with MV infection (19). The increased IL-10 levels may also be implicated in the decrease in IL-5 expression, because IL-10 is known to inhibit IL-5 production by T cells and in mouse models of allergic disease (52, 53). IL-10 has been shown to display a range of immune suppressive effects, including inhibition of APC function, induction of anergy, differentiation of Treg, and control of the expansion of other T cell populations (54), and may be key to the observed decrease in monocyte/macrophages and innate immune responses observed in MV infection.

The cellular source of the increased IL-10 in MV infection is not clear and various cell populations, including macrophages, have been suggested (19). IL-10 can be produced by many different myeloid and lymphoid cells, and more than one population of IL-10-producing cells may be induced during an infection (reviewed in Ref. 55). Dendritic cells, macrophages, Th1 cells, and Treg have all been shown to produce IL-10 in different disease models.

Our data show that in adult measles patients, monocyte/macrophages and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (including effector T cells and Treg) contribute to increased IL-10 production. Although a role for IL-10 in suppression by Treg has long been excluded, in several in vivo systems suppression by Treg is mediated by inhibitory cytokines like IL-10 (38, 56). A recent study has shown that a subset of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Treg, defined by the surface expression of TIRC7, is FoxP3⁺IL-10⁺ (39), further consolidating the case for IL-10-mediated suppression by CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Treg.

In conclusion, our data show for the first time that CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low Treg are up-regulated in MV infection, and that CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and CD14⁺ monocyte/macrophages contribute to the increased IL-10. Whether these two cell types are solely responsible for the IL-10 increase or whether other cell types are also involved awaits further detailed investigations. We also show that, as observed previously in children (57), adult measles patients have significantly reduced IFN-α production and significantly increased sustained IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion. The enhanced Treg, IFN-γ, and IL-10 being implicated in immunopathology and immunosuppression may together be the underlying cause of the observed clinical severity in adult MV patients.

We thank Philip G. Bardin (Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Monash Medical Center, Melbourne, Australia) and Yun-wen Hu (Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center) for critical comments on the manuscript, Yong-fen Xu for providing PBMC from healthy controls, and Jing Liao for assisting with flow cytometry. We also acknowledge the technical assistance provided by Zhi-ao Chen and Jing He.

The authors have no financial conflict of interest.