Basic research for the development of a treatment for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K15721
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Maeda Hajime 福島県立医科大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 助教 (90746059)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-11-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 亜急性硬化性全脳炎 / 麻疹ウイルス / ファビピラビル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a late-onset and intractable disease. Ribavirin is administered intracerebroventricularly to patients with SSPE. However, its therapeutic efficacy is insufficient. Favipiravir demonstrates anti-viral effects against RNA viruses. In this study, the antiviral effect of favipiravir against measles virus (Edmonston strain) and SSPE virus (Yamagata-1 strain) was examined in vitro. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) of favipiravir against Edmonston and Yamagata-1 strains were 108.7 uM and 38.6 uM, respectively, which were similar to those of ribavirin. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of favipiravir against Edmonston and Yamagata-1 strains were >1,000 uM and >1,000 uM, respectively.

Free Research Field

Neonatology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

亜急性硬化性全脳炎（SSPE）は、麻疹ウイルス変異株（SSPEウイルス）の持続感染による遅発性ウイルス感染症である。発展途上国では麻疹の流行が続いており、日本を含む先進国では散発的な麻疹の症例が報告されている。本研究は、in vitroにおいて、ファビピラビルは、麻疹ウイルスとSSPEウイルスにリバビリンと同等のウイルス増殖阻害効果を認め、高濃度においても細胞毒性がないことを確認した。本研究は、ファビピラビルが血液脳関門を通過し、脳脊髄液で十分な血中濃度を維持できるかという課題はあるが、ファビピラビルがSSPEの新規の治療薬になる可能性があり大変意義のある研究と考える。