[Suppressive action of the influenza virus on the cellular immune reaction]

Experiments in mice using syngeneic transfer of spleen cells and intraperitoneal inoculation of cyclophosphamide, levamisole, hydrocortisone, and anti-0 serum demonstrated that influenza virus may inhibit T-suppressors from the first days of infection. Then the T-helper system of lymphocytes is inhibited and the capacity of the animals to show delayed type hypersensitivity is reduced. In this period, higher activity of T-helpers is observed. It is assumed that inhibition of the T-helper system is associated with the affection by influenza virus of the cells which activate T-helpers.