STRAIN-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN LFA-1 INDUCTION ON MEASLES VIRUS-INFECTED MONOCYTES AND ADHESION AND VIRAL TRANSMISSION TO ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Measles virus (MV) infection of monocytes induces leukocyte function-a ssociated antigen-1 (LFA-I), an integrin that mediates intercellular a dhesion to the endothelium. Thus, an increase in LFA-1 expression coul d lead to enhanced monocyte adherence and virus dissemination to endot helial cells (ECs) and potentially be an important means of distinctio n between MV strains. We identified both vaccine and wild-type strains that induced LFA-1 and others that failed to induce. Although adhesio n of MV-infected monocytes and viral transmission to ECs was demonstra ted, strain-specific differences were not correlated with LFA-1 induct ion. MV infection of ECs was dramatically reduced in the absence of ce ll contact, suggesting virus dissemination by cell-cell transmission.