Cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus-infected cells.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from calves infected with and hyperimmunized to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) were stimulated in vitro with viral antigens to evaluate their cytotoxicity for a variety of cells. The 51-Cr release assay was used to measure cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was not present in fresh nonstimulated cells, but was detected in cultured, IBRV-stimulated cells at day 3, was maximal at day 7, and declined thereafter. PBMC stimulated in vitro with IBRV expressed a preference for killing IBRV-infected cells compared to pseudorabies virus (PRV)-infected cells. IBRV-infected, but not PRV-infected, cold target cells inhibited lysis of IBRV-labeled target cells. High concentrations of IBRV hyperimmune serum partially blocked cytotoxicity. Cells expressing a viral preference for cytotoxicity showed no preference for lysis of autologous compared to heterologous bovine cells. PBMC from calves that were either IBRV-immune or not immune were cultured without IBRV stimulation and had similar levels of cytotoxicity for IBRV-infected cells as cells from IBRV-infected cattle.