Comparison of the T helper cell response induced by respiratory syncytial virus and its fusion protein in BALB/c mice.
Specific proliferative T-cell responses were induced in the lymph node cells (LNC) of mice immunised with a sucrose density gradient purified preparation of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus or an immunoaffinity purified preparation of the F glycoprotein. Inhibition studies and flow cytometric analysis showed that the responding cell population were CD4+ T cells. The cytokines produced by virus-specific and F-specific cells were assessed using the CTLL cell line. Peak quantities of cytokine were consistently detected in the supernatants of stimulated cultures 24 h prior to maximum proliferation. The proportion of IL-2 released was determined by blocking IL-2 activity with an anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody. In cultures of RS virus primed LNC challenged with whole virus there was a switch of cytokine production from 70% IL-2 at day 3 to 80% IL-4 by 6 days of culture. In contrast, LNC cultures from mice immunised with F protein secreted 75-100% IL-2 throughout the culture period. These data suggest that after 6 days of challenge with viral antigen, the RS virus-primed LNC response consists of T helper cells which are predominantly of the Th2 subset, secreting IL-4, whilst F protein-primed LNC secrete large quantities of IL-2 and can therefore be classified as predominantly of the Th1 subset.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4