Naturally occurring double-stranded RNA and immune responses. III. Immunogenicity and antigenicity in animals.

Naturally occurring, double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA)) was immunogenic when injected into mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, dogs and baboons. The response to native material administered intravenously (i.v.) was strongest in rabbits and mice, and weakest in baboons. Mice, guinea-pigs and baboons injected with ds-RNA complexed with methylated BSA emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant all gave high antibody responses. When ds-RNA was given in aerosol form to mice and guinea-pigs the response was weaker than that following i.v. injection, and baboons did not respond to antigen given as an aerosol. In most species the immune response obtained was predominantly IgM in nature, and there was no evidence for cell-mediated immunity in any species. The only evidence of an adverse reaction associated with repeated administration of ds-RNA was a systemic anaphylactic-type response in a small group of mice given ds-RNA repeatedly in aerosol form and challenged with ds-RNA i.v.