Immunosuppression During Influenza Virus Infection

Abstract

The effects of a live attenuated influenza vaccine and subsequent challenge with virulent influenza virus on the delayed hypersensitivity skin test, and the in vitro response of lymphocytes were evaluated. Volunteers were skin tested before and after administration of vaccine or placebo and challenge with PPD (a purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ), candida, mumps, and trichophytin, and their lymphocytes were tested for [ 3 H]thymidine uptake in response to phytohemagglutin. Of eight volunteers who showed evidence of viral replication after administration of the attenuated vaccine, four had a significant diminution in their skin test response, whereas 8 of 13 volunteers infected with virulent influenza virus showed a diminution. Of the 21 volunteers who were infected with either attenuated or virulent influenza virus, 12 showed suppression of their phytohemagglutin response. None of the volunteers who were given placebo vaccine, or who showed no evidence for viral replication after immunization or challenge, had a suppression of their skin test or phytohemagglutin responses. Although most of the infected volunteers demonstrated suppression of their T-cell function, there was no evidence of a similar suppression of B-cell function.

Effect of viral and bacterial pneumonias on cell-mediated immunity in humans

“…Varying results have been obtained in previous studies of CMI during influenza (2,3,13,14,25,26). Other authors have not emphasized were similar to those in this study, their technique involved use of a prolonged tritium pulse as compared with our short pulse with tritium.…”

Lymphocyte Transformation in Syphilis: an In Vitro Correlate of Immune Suppression In Vivo?

“…Suppression of lymphocyte response to antigens related to the infecting organism and/or to mitogens such as PHA has been demonstrated in fungal (1,4,5) and mycobacterial (19) but not in acute bacterial (10,22) infections. In viral infections (7,10), decreased lymphocyte response to PHA has been noted and this finding has correlated, in preliminary studies, with decreased numbers of thymus-dependent (T) lymphocytes in peripheral blood (10). An alteration in the ratio of circulating T and bursa-dependent (B) lymphocytes in syphilis may offer a partial explanation for our results; this has not, to date, been studied in patients with syphilis.…”

Development of serum and intestinal antibody response to rotavirus after naturally acquired rotavirus infection in man

“…This possibility is supported by the findings of prolonged virus shedding and increased IgA response in the intestine in patients with reduced IgG antibody response in the serum. Although viral infections have been known to induce varying degrees of alterations in the regulating mechanisms of immune response [Dolin, 1973;Kantzler, 1974;Mangi, 1974;Munyer, 1975], the relative potential for the generation of virus specific suppression or help during active rotavirus infection has not been clearly defined.…”