Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase specific cell-mediated immune responses to influenza A virus following immunization in guinea pigs.

Groups of guinea pigs were immunized with different inactivated recombinant influenza A viruses including H3ChN2Ch, Heq1N2Ch, H3ChNeq1 or uninfected allantoic fluid. Employing hemagglutination and neuraminidase inhibition tests, an in-vitro lymphocyte transformation (LTF) assay, and rosetting techniques for the separation of lymphocytes, influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) specific antibody and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses were evaluated. Inactivated H3ChN2Ch, H3ChNeq1, HavN2Ch, and Heq1Neq1 recombinant influenza viruses were used as test antigens. Following immunization the CMI and antibody responses to influenza were characterized by the induction of specific LTF and antibody activity to homotypic HA or NA antigens but not to heterotypic HA or NA antigens. The temporal kinetics of the antibody response to influenza antigens was characterized by a prompt onset being initially detected at 1-2 weeks and reaching peak titers 3-4 weeks after immunization. Influenza specific LTF responses were first detected one week after immunization and declined to minimal responses at eight weeks. T-lymphocytes but not B-lymphocytes were capable of in-vitro recognition of the HA and NA antigens. After recognition the subsequent in-vitro lymphoproliferation was shown to involve both T and B lymphocytes.