Characteristics of in vitro production of mucosal antibody to respiratory syncytial virus in tonsillar tissue lymphocytes.

Tonsillar lymphocytes (TL) obtained from 39 subjects were established in culture in vitro, and analyzed for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) specific antibody synthesis after stimulation with pokeweed mitogen and live or ultraviolet light inactivated RSV. Following stimulation with the virus, IgG1, IgA, and low levels of IgG3 but no IgG2, IgG4, or IgE anti-RSV antibody could be detected in the culture supernatants. The anti-RSV antibody production in TL did not show any correlation with the preexisting levels of anti-RSV antibody in the serum of the subjects. TL collected prior to RSV infection in the community exhibited low levels of RSV antibody synthesis. On the other hand, TL obtained during the months of natural exposure to RSV exhibited significantly higher anti-RSV antibody production. TL from atopic children demonstrated IgA anti-RSV antibody more frequently and in higher content than the TL from nonatopic children. There were no significant differences in antibody production in IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses in these subjects. These observations suggest that mucosal lymphoid tissue participates in IgG1 subclass antibody production. It is also suggested that mucosal infections correlate better with local antibody synthesis than with serum antibody activity.