Studies on the Role of Leukocytes in Infection with Influenza Virus

Abstract

Summary A comparison was made of the associative reactions of PR8 strain of influenza virus with guinea pig red and white blood cells. Leukocytes adsorb virus more efficiently than do erythrocytes, but only a small proportion of the virus taken up by leukocytes was eluted. WBC-associated virus was less available to antibody than was RBC-associated virus, as judged by adsorption of antibody from solution and by neutralization of virus. The leukocytes of peritoneal exudates appeared to contain a higher content of virus than blood obtained from infected mice. Phagocytosis of virus-fluorescein labeled antibody complexes by leukocytes was clearly demonstrated but tissue culture cells showed only surface localization of antigen. The appearance of both types of cells treated with the hemagglutinin subunits of influenza virus obtained by extraction with ether was indistinguishable from cells treated with virus. The results of the studies with fluorescein labeled antibodies were obtained by the application of new techniques developed in the course of this investigation. The significance of the findings is discussed and the hypothesis is presented that leukocytes may serve to transport virus to extrapulmonary sites in infections of man and animals.