Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ Production, Cytotoxicity, and Antigen-Stimulated Blastogenesis during Experimental Rhinovirus Infection

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Abstract
To determine whether rhinovirus infection induced a systemic cellular immune response in humans, specific antigen-stimulated blastogenesis, natural killer cell activity, and mitogenstimulated production of interleukin-2 and interferon-γ by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pBMC) were quantified during experimental rhinovirus infection of normal volunteers. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated interleukin-2 production PBMC collected on day 5 rhinovirus inoculation was increased fourfold compared with production by PBMC collected before rhinovirus challenge .05); phytohemagglutinin-stimulated interferon-γ production was doubled P < .05). An inverse relationship was observed between the increase in interleukin-2 production and both mucus production (P < .02) and the number of days virus was cultured from nasal washings P < .02). Natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity of PBMC collected on day 5 after rhinovirus challenge also increased (P < .01) compared with preinfection levels, as was specific antigen-stimulated blastogenesis on day 21 (P < .05). The extent of blastogenic response correlated directly with both mucus production P < .05) and the number of days virus was cultured from nasal washings (P < .05). These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that rhinovirus infection results in activation of a systemic cellular immune response.

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