Induction of Delayed Hypersensitivity to Influenza and Mumps Viruses in Mice

Abstract

Delayed hypersensitivity was produced in mice to mumps and influenza virus antigens as a preliminary step to studies of the role of delayed hypersensitivity in resistance to viral infections. Since the footpad test was not found to be sufficiently quantitative or reliable, the in vitro technique of macrophage-migration-inhibition of George and Vaughan was adapted to the mouse model. Cells from sensitized mice were significantly inhibited from migrating when challenged with the homologous antigen. There was some inhibition of migration of sensitized cells with heterologous antigens, but this did not differ significantly from inhibition of non-sensitized cells so challenged, and could be largely circumvented by appropriate dilution of the challenge antigen. The migration of sensitized cells not challenged with either antigen was in the same range as that of the control, non-sensitized, unchallenged cells. It is concluded that macrophage-migration-inhibition provides an assay system for delayed hypersensitivity that is both sensitive and specific for the particular myxoviruses tested.