Parameters of Humoral and Cellular Immunity to Influenza A/USSR/90/77 (H1N1) Virus in Various Age Groups

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 142; no. 5; pp. 699 - 703
• Main Authors: Ruben, Frederick L., Bachmayer, Helmut, Fireman, Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.11.1980; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age Factors; Aged; Antibodies; Antibody Formation; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Child; Children; Cord blood; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunology and Host Defense; Influenza A virus - immunology; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - immunology; Lymphocytes - physiology; Middle Aged; Older adults; Orthomyxoviridae; Viruses
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/142.5.699

After a local epidemic of A/USSR influenza, immunologic parameters related to influenza A/USSR/90/77 (HINl) virus were studied in four age groups: elderly persons (⩾64 years), healthy adults (20–44 years), children (six to 13 years), and neonates (who served as controls). Sera from the first three groups had nearly equivalent titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody (geometric mean titers, 1:8–1:11), which were greater than those in cord blood of neonates. Lymphocyte proliferation responses to influenza A/USSR viral antigens among study groups were similar, with mean stimulation ratios (to whole virus) of 4.2–5.4; neonatal cord blood samples were unresponsive (stimulation ratio, 1.1). In contrast, the magnitude of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against baby hamster kidney target cells infected with influenza A/USSR virus was significantly greater with lymphocytes from adults and elderly persons (P < 0.05) than with those from children.