Cellular immune responses in the murine lung to local immunization with influenza A virus glycoproteins in micelles and immunostimulatory complexes (iscoms).

Primary immunization with a single inoculum of either micelles or iscoms containing influenza A virus glycoproteins failed to induce either B or cytotoxic T (Tc) cell responses. In contrast, immunization with two inocula of iscoms, but not micelles, resulted in the appearance of influenza virus-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) but not Tc cells in the lung. There was a 10-fold increase in Tc cell precursor frequency and an increase in ASC generated by secondary in vitro stimulation of lung cell cultures obtained from mice primed with iscoms but not micelles. In mice primed with infectious virus, secondary immunization with either micelles or iscoms increased the number of ASC in the lung and elicited virus-specific Tc cell responses. In contrast homologous virus challenge failed to induce detectable secondary B or Tc cell responses.