Effective prophylaxis of influenza A virus pneumonia in mice by topical passive immunotherapy with polyvalent human immunoglobulins or F(ab')2 fragments.
The effectiveness of polyvalent plasma-derived human immunoglobulins (IVIG) in passive immunotherapy of influenza virus pneumonia was assessed, using the Strain Scotland (A/Scotland/74 (H3N2)) adapted to BALB/c mice by repeated lung passages. Haemagglutinin antibodies in two batches of IVIG at 10 mg/ml had a titre of 1/16. Intravenous injection of 1000-5000 microg of IVIG, 3 h after infection, gave 60-70% protection, whereas intranasal injection of 25-50 microg protected 90% of mice infected with a lethal dose of influenza virus. F(ab')2 fragments were at least as protective as intact IVIG, suggesting that complement or Fcgamma receptor-bearing cells were not required. Topical passive immunotherapy with IVIG or F(ab')2 gave protection up to 8 h after infection, but not at 24 h, suggesting that anti-influenza A antibodies in IVIG, delivered locally, are only effective at early stages of the infectious process. The potential value of topical administration of IVIG or F(ab')2 fragments for influenza A pneumonia prophylaxis was further demonstrated by the protective effects of their intranasal administration 24 h before challenge.
Ramisse
F
F
Centre d'Etudes du Bouchet, Vert le Petit, Paris, France.
Deramoudt
F X
FX
Szatanik
M
M
Bianchi
A
A
Binder
P
P
Hannoun
C
C
Alonso
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous