Fine specificity of the in vitro antibody response to influenza virus by human blood lymphocytes.

The fine specificity of anti-influenza antibody produced in vitro by human PBM stimulated with different strains of influenza virus was examined by competition binding in solid phase enzyme immunoassay. Most of the antibody produced in vitro is directed to strain-specific or cross-reactive determinants on the hemagglutinin molecule. The extent of cross-reactivity is dependent on the strain of virus used to stimulate PBM as well as the individual tested and presumably on his previous exposure to influenza viruses. PBM from some individuals produced antibody that bound to the stimulating strain of influenza virus but not to other strains of the same subtype. In other individuals, antibody was produced in vitro that cross-reacted with all viruses in the same subtype (e.g., H3N2; A/X31, A/X47, and A/Texas) but did not bind to other (H2N1 or H1N1) subtypes, and in a few individuals, extensive cross-reaction between subtypes was seen. The presence of antibody to hemagglutinin in these culture supernatants was confirmed by competition binding to highly purified hemagglutinin. This in vitro culture system allows the immunologic memory of individuals to a wide range of stimulating virus strains to be examined simultaneously in terms of specificity of the antibody response by human PBM to influenza virus after natural infection or immunization.