Suppression of cell mediated immunity after infection with attenuated rubella virus

Abstract

The effects of attenuated rubella virus infection upon cell mediated immunity of human volunteers were studied. The volunteers received the vaccine either by nose drops or by the subcutaneous route. Changes in cell mediated immunity in terms of delayed cutaneous sensitivity to recall antigens, phytohemagglutination stimulation, and spontaneous migration inhibitory factor like activity were studied at various time periods after infection. Spontaneous migration inhibitory factor like activity was studied on supernatants of the lymphocytes obtained from the volunteers and incubated for 72 h in the absence of any antigens. A significant proportion of the volunteers showed suppression of one or more parameters of cell mediated immunity tested by week 2 of infection compared to the control; however, there was no correlation between suppression of the various parameters studied. No difference was noticed in the incidence of cell mediated immunity suppression between nose drops and subcutaneous route groups.