Monocyte and iscom enhancement of cell-mediated response to cytomegalovirus

Cell-mediated and humoral responses to cytomegalovirus were studied in a monkey model. Repeated low doses of virus antigen gave poor reactivities in both respects. High antigen doses gave a good humoral IgG response. When autologous monocytes were incubated with the CMV antigen as the immunizing injection, the specific cellular response to CMV antigen increased. The monocytes themselves did not contribute to the in vitro specific proliferation response. When iscoms were the carrier particles for CMV antigens, cellular response was even more strongly enhanced. In immunization schedules where specific cellular responses are important, we suggest that autologous monocytes or iscoms may be employed as antigen carriers.