Kinetics of specific in vitro antibody production following influenza immunization

In vitro specific antibody responses to influenza viral antigens by peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes following stimulation with influenza virus or pokeweed mitogen have been measured before and at time intervals after influenza immunization in 11 healthy volunteers. There was an early increase in specific antibody produced by lymphocytes stimulated with influenza virus in vitro, in all subjects immunized. The magnitude of the response varied considerably between individuals as did its duration. Virus specific antibody production by cells stimulated with pokeweed mitogen also increased after immunization in all donors. Cells from six of the 11 individuals produced specific antibody in vitro seven days after immunization without antigen or mitogen stimulation. Seven of the 11 subjects had a greater than four-fold increase in serum titre of haemagglutination inhibiting antibody. This study shows an early brisk increase in the ability of lymphocytes to respond to influenza virus in vitro following immunization consistent with a secondary immune response.