Surface glycoproteins of influenza virus increase cell-mediated immunity functions in mice.

T-lymphocyte blastogenic response to Concanavalin A, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and NK cell activity were studied in three groups of Balb/c mice infected with intranasal inoculum of A/Chile/1/83 (H1N1) influenza virus, vaccinated with same virus glycoproteins and infected fifteen day after vaccination. Virus infection results in T-cell function impairment. In fact T-cell blastogenic response and IL-2 production are profoundly decreased as early as 24 hours, whereas NK cell activity is depressed only later. Instead viral glycoprotein vaccination induces an enhancement of CMI related parameters and protects the host from virus immunosuppressive effects.