Neutralization of measles virus infectivity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity against an Epstein-Barr virus-infected cell line by intravenous immunoglobulin G [corrected].

Patients with antibody deficiency disorders are highly susceptible to microbial infections. Intravenous (i.v.) immunoglobulin concentrates were originally developed as replacement therapy for such patients. The present study assesses the measles virus neutralizing antibody titers and the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) capacities against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected cells of immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparations produced for i.v. use (i.v. IgG). The level of neutralizing antibodies against measles virus was determined by a syncytium neutralization test with Vero cells as targets. The measles virus neutralizing antibody titers of the i.v. IgG preparations were >3 x 10(2) and were an average of 1.0 log higher than the titers in pooled plasma from healthy subjects. The two IgG preparations tested showed similar ADCC activities against EBV-infected Raji cells, being active at concentrations of 3 mg/ml or higher. i.v. IgG bound to Raji cells but not to the EBV-negative Ramos cells, as evaluated by flow cytometry. Our in vitro findings may provide further support for the use of i.v. IgG for the prevention and treatment of infections caused by specific viral pathogens.