Immune Response of the Human Respiratory Tract. II. Cell-mediated Immunity in the Lower Respiratory Tract to Tuberculin and Mumps and Influenza Viruses
Normal volunteers were tested for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and influenza and mumps viruses by use of circulating lymphocytes and cells obtained by bronchoalveolar (BA) lavage. CMI was assayed by the test for inhibition of macrophage migration. Both circulating and BA cells from volunteers with positive delayed skin tests gave significant inhibition in the presence of M. tuberculosis antigens, but those from individuals with negative skin tests did not. As with M. tuberculosis, CMI was demonstrable from both circulating and BA cells from individuals with positive skin tests for mumps, but not in those with negative skin tests. CMI to influenza virus was tested before and after immunization, either by aerosol or sc. CMI in the lower respiratory tract was best stimulated by aerosol immunization. Subcutaneous immunization stimulated primarily circulating CMI.