title: Induction of antigen-specific antibody response in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro by a dog kidney cell vaccine against rabies virus (DKCV).
abstract: In the present report an in vitro method for obtaining a secondary human antibody response to a dog kidney cell vaccine against rabies virus (DKCV) is described. Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal rabies-immune and nonimmune donors were stimulated in vitro by DKCV. The production of virus-specific antibody in supernatant fluids was monitored by ELISA. Antibody was produced by lymphocytes from rabies-immune individuals, whereas those of nonimmune subjects consistently failed to produce anti-rabies antibodies after in vitro stimulation with DKCV. The generation of the anti-rabies virus antibody response of lymphocytes stimulated with DKCV was shown to be an antigen-dependent, as well as an antigen-specific process. Optimal antigen-specific responses were observed at relatively low concentrations of antigen (10(-1) to 10(-2) micrograms/culture). At increasing concentrations of antigen in culture (greater than 1 microgram/culture), the anti-rabies virus response was suppressed. Antibody produced upon stimulation was capable of neutralizing rabies virus. The response to rabies virus requires T cell help because lymphocytes depleted of SE rosetting cells did not respond to an antigenic stimulus. Studies in which the same individuals were followed over time showed a sequential development of circulating B cell subsets. The system may provide a model for the study of human B cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro and may be valuable for testing the potency of rabies vaccines in vitro.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004285:Dogs; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011819:Rabies Vaccines