Table 1.
CD4 T Cells Mediate the Eosinophilic Response Induced by RSV G Protein and Peptide 19–KLH
| Vaccine Antigen | Antibody treatment | Percentage of CD4+ cells | Percentage of CD8+ cells | Percentage of BAL eosinophils | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G protein | rat Ig | 21.2 | 8.5 | 67.2 ± 8.5 | ||||
| G protein | anti-CD4 | 1.5 | 15.0 | 8.1 ± 4.7** | ||||
| G protein | anti-CD8 | 24.4 | 2.7 | 63.8 ± 6.4 | ||||
| Peptide 19–KLH | rat Ig | 19.0 | 7.7 | 29.6 ± 13.3 | ||||
| Peptide 19–KLH | anti-CD4 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 0.75 ± 0.6** | ||||
| Peptide 19–KLH | anti-CD8 | 27.4 | 2.8 | 32.8 ± 10.3 | ||||
| RSV | none | 25.8 | 11.2 | 0.7 ± 1.0 |
BALB/c mice (five mice per group) were vaccinated intramuscularly at 0 and 4 wk with natural G protein (1 μg) or 250 μg KLH containing 18 μg peptide 19, or intranasally with RSV (106 PFU). The indicated antibodies were administered intraperitoneally at 14 and 20 d after immunization. The mice were challenged with RSV the next day and pulmonary eosinophilia was assessed 7 d later. Data are presented as mean percentage eosinophils in BAL (± 1 SD), and percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells relative to total splenic lymphocytes. Significant differences (**) are indicated compared to control mice given rat IgG. A second experiment yielded similar results.