Het-I responses to conserved epitopes may be mediated by humoral antibodies as well as by T-Cells. Here is a study on humoral Abs mainly against to the conserved extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein and CTL response to the immunodominant NP<SUB>366?374</SUB> epitope in pigs.
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Journal of General Virology (2001), 82, 2697-2707.
? 2001 Society for General Microbiology
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD><HR noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>Animal: RNA Viruses
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Respiratory and systemic humoral and cellular immune responses of pigs to a heterosubtypic influenza A virus infection
</NOBR><NOBR>Paul P. Heinen<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR>, <NOBR>Els A. de Boer-Luijtze<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR> and <NOBR>Andre T. J. Bianchi<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR>
Department of Mammalian Virology, Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad BV), PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands<SUP>1</SUP>
Author for correspondence: Paul Heinen. Fax +31 320 238668. e-mail p.p.heinen@id.wag-ur.nl<SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!-- var u = "p.p.heinen", d = "id.wag-ur.nl"; document.getElementById("em0").innerHTML = '<a href="mailto:' + u + '@' + d + '">' + u + '@' + d + '<\/a>'//--></SCRIPT>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Abstract </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
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Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The level of heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I) and the immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms stimulated by a heterosubtypic influenza virus infection<SUP> </SUP>were investigated in pigs. Pigs are natural hosts for influenza<SUP> </SUP>virus and, like humans, they host both subtypes H1N1 and H3N2.<SUP> </SUP>Marked Het-I was observed when pigs were infected with H1N1<SUP> </SUP>and subsequently challenged with H3N2. After challenge with<SUP> </SUP>H3N2, pigs infected earlier with H1N1 did not develop fever<SUP> </SUP>and showed reduced virus excretion compared with non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control pigs. In addition, virus transmission to unchallenged<SUP> </SUP>group-mates could be shown by virus isolation in the non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control group but not in the group infected previously with<SUP> </SUP>H1N1. Pigs infected previously with homologous H3N2 virus were<SUP> </SUP>protected completely. After challenge with H3N2, pigs infected<SUP> </SUP>previously with H1N1 showed a considerable increase in serum<SUP> </SUP>IgG titre to the conserved extracellular domain of M2 but not<SUP> </SUP>to the conserved nucleoprotein. These results suggest that antibodies<SUP> </SUP>against external conserved epitopes can have an important role<SUP> </SUP>in broad-spectrum immunity. After primary infection with both<SUP> </SUP>H1N1 and H3N2, a long-lived increase was observed in the percentage<SUP> </SUP>of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells in the lungs and in the lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>response in the blood. Upon challenge with H3N2, pigs infected<SUP> </SUP>previously with H1N1 again showed an increase in the percentage<SUP> </SUP>of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells in the lungs, whereas pigs infected previously<SUP> </SUP>with H3N2 did not, suggesting that CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells also have a<SUP> </SUP>role in Het-I. To confer broad-spectrum immunity, future vaccines<SUP> </SUP>should induce antibodies and CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells against conserved<SUP> </SUP>antigens.<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Introduction </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
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Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Influenza A virus expresses on its membrane two immunogenic,<SUP> </SUP>but variable proteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase<SUP> </SUP>(NA). In humans, new epidemic strains arise every 1?2<SUP> </SUP>years as a result of selected point mutations in these two surface<SUP> </SUP>glycoproteins, a phenomenon known as antigenic drift. Sometimes,<SUP> </SUP>an exchange of the HA and/or NA gene segment with an animal<SUP> </SUP>virus occurs, a phenomenon known as antigenic shift, and this<SUP> </SUP>may result in a pandemic. Current human influenza vaccines are<SUP> </SUP>updated annually to induce immune responses specific for the<SUP> </SUP>prevalent strains.<SUP> </SUP>
Antigenic drift is generally ascribed to immune pressure, i.e.<SUP> </SUP>the influence of antibodies induced by a previous infection,<SUP> </SUP>or by vaccination. In pigs, antigenic drift of influenza viruses<SUP> </SUP>seems to be more limited than in humans (Brown et al., 1997
<SUP> </SUP>; Bikour et al., 1995
; Castrucci et al., 1994
). This is probably<SUP> </SUP>because pigs have a short life span, which does not cover more<SUP> </SUP>than one influenza epidemic, and vaccines are only infrequently<SUP> </SUP>applied. Nevertheless, antigenic drift of swine influenza A<SUP> </SUP>H3N2 viruses was demonstrated in the Netherlands and Belgium.<SUP> </SUP>This drift has led to a loss of cross-reactivity of recent field<SUP> </SUP>isolates with the human A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) strain,<SUP> </SUP>which is the strain in the current swine influenza vaccine.<SUP> </SUP>Therefore, replacement of this strain by a more recent swine<SUP> </SUP>H3N2 isolate was recommended (de Jong et al., 1999
). However,<SUP> </SUP>the regular updating of influenza vaccines is costly and impractical.<SUP> </SUP>Antigenic shifts occur frequently in pigs (Castrucci et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1993
; Brown et al., 1998
; Zhou et al., 1999
), probably because<SUP> </SUP>pigs are highly susceptible to infection and have cell-surface<SUP> </SUP>receptors for viruses of both avian and human origin (Ito et<SUP> </SUP>al., 1998
). Moreover, it is conceivable that, if vaccines were<SUP> </SUP>to be applied more widely, acceleration of antigenic drift and<SUP> </SUP>antigenic shifts would soon give rise to escape variants.<SUP> </SUP>
Instead of the regular updating of vaccine strains, it might<SUP> </SUP>be possible to induce broadly reactive immune responses that<SUP> </SUP>could provide protection when the vaccine does not match circulating<SUP> </SUP>strains, perhaps even against a new subtype. Broadly reactive<SUP> </SUP>responses against influenza A virus have been studied extensively<SUP> </SUP>in mice (Kurimura & Hirano, 1973
; Okuno et al., 1994
;<SUP> </SUP>Smirnov et al., 1999
; Webster & Askonas, 1980
; Wraith<SUP> </SUP>& Askonas, 1985
). Infection of mice with an influenza A<SUP> </SUP>virus of one subtype can induce partial protection against an<SUP> </SUP>infection with a virus of a different subtype (Epstein et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1997
; Flynn et al., 1998
; Liang et al., 1994
; Nguyen et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1999
; Schulman & Kilbourne, 1965
; Werner, 1966
). However,<SUP> </SUP>the immune mechanisms responsible for this broad protection,<SUP> </SUP>termed heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I), are still incompletely<SUP> </SUP>defined.<SUP> </SUP>
In this study, the level of Het-I to infection with an H3N2<SUP> </SUP>virus after primary infection with an H1N1 virus and the immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms stimulated were investigated in pigs. The H3N2 virus<SUP> </SUP>was transmitted from humans to pigs during the 1968 Hong Kong<SUP> </SUP>pandemic and the H1N1 virus from birds to pigs in Northern Europe<SUP> </SUP>in 1979. In 1984, a genetic reassortment between the two subtypes<SUP> </SUP>occurred, resulting in an H3N2 virus carrying all the proteins<SUP> </SUP>of the avian H1N1 virus except for HA and NA (Castrucci et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1993
). Since then, the unchanged avian H1N1 virus and the reassortant<SUP> </SUP>human H3N2 virus have continued to co-circulate in the swine<SUP> </SUP>population in Europe. The fact that all proteins except for<SUP> </SUP>HA and NA are very similar between the two subtypes makes these<SUP> </SUP>European swine viruses ideal to study Het-I.<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Methods </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
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Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Propagation of influenza virus.
The influenza virus strains A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) and A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2) were isolated from pneumonic lung tissue of pigs from<SUP> </SUP>outbreaks of influenza during a recent field survey (Loeffen<SUP> </SUP>et al., 1999
). These viruses were isolated in primary cultures<SUP> </SUP>of porcine thyroid cells and then passaged three times in these<SUP> </SUP>cells and then twice in Madin?Darby canine kidney (MDCK,<SUP> </SUP>ECACC no. 84121903) cells. Virus stocks were produced and stored<SUP> </SUP>at -70 ?C until used as inoculum or as antigen in haemagglutination<SUP> </SUP>inhibition (HI) assays, ELISAs and T-cell proliferation assays.<SUP> </SUP>
Pigs, immunization and challenge.
Thirty Dutch Landrace pigs were obtained from the specific-pathogen-free<SUP> </SUP>herd of the Institute for Animal Science and Health. The pigs<SUP> </SUP>were divided into three groups of 10 and each group was housed<SUP> </SUP>in a separate room. At the age of 10 weeks, pigs were inoculated<SUP> </SUP>with live virus, in the nostrils, with an aerosol produced by<SUP> </SUP>nebulization of 2 ml culture supernatant, using an airbrush<SUP> </SUP>device (model no. 100LG; Badger). Pigs in the Het-I group were<SUP> </SUP>immunized with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> of the field isolate A/Sw/Best/96<SUP> </SUP>(H1N1). Pigs in the homologous immunity (Hom-I) group were immunized<SUP> </SUP>with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). Pigs in the control group were<SUP> </SUP>inoculated with uninfected culture supernatant and were used<SUP> </SUP>as challenge controls. At day 42 post-inoculation (p.i.), 6<SUP> </SUP>weeks after primary infection, five of the pigs in each group<SUP> </SUP>were challenged with an aerosol of the field isolate A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2). The other five pigs of each group were kept apart for<SUP> </SUP>24 h and then reunited with their challenged group-mates<SUP> </SUP>to determine whether virus transmission occurred in the presence<SUP> </SUP>of Hom-I and Het-I and in the absence of immunity. The experiment<SUP> </SUP>was approved by the institute?s ethical committee for<SUP> </SUP>experiments in animals.<SUP> </SUP>
Clinical observations and sampling of pigs.
Rectal temperatures of all pigs were measured with a thermometer<SUP> </SUP>(C 402 Terumo Digital Clinical, Vetin-Aacofarma) and oropharyngeal<SUP> </SUP>fluid was collected daily for 8 days following primary infection<SUP> </SUP>(days 0?8 p.i.) and challenge inoculation (days 42?50 p.i.).<SUP> </SUP>Blood was collected from the five challenged pigs at days 0,<SUP> </SUP>3, 7, 10, 18, 25, 31, 38, 46, 50, 53 and 59 p.i. and from<SUP> </SUP>the five contact pigs at days 38, 46, 50, 53 and 59 p.i.<SUP> </SUP>Serum was collected to determine HI antibody titres in the HI<SUP> </SUP>assay and titres of IgG antibodies specific for the extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of M2 (M2e) and for the nucleoprotein (NP) in ELISAs.<SUP> </SUP>Heparinized blood was collected for the isolation of peripheral<SUP> </SUP>blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to be used in a T-cell proliferation<SUP> </SUP>assay. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and nasal swabs (NS)<SUP> </SUP>(Medical Wire & Equipment Co.) of the challenged pigs were<SUP> </SUP>collected at days 0, 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 22, 29, 39, 44, 46, 50,<SUP> </SUP>53 and 57 p.i. To collect NS and BALF, animals were anaesthetized<SUP> </SUP>by injection (ketamine, midazolam, medetomidine). To avoid excessive<SUP> </SUP>interference with virus transmission, no BALF was collected<SUP> </SUP>from the contact pigs. NS was collected to determine antibody<SUP> </SUP>titres in the anti-NP IgA ELISA and BALF to monitor the changes<SUP> </SUP>in phenotypes of BALF cells by flow cytometry.<SUP> </SUP>
Virus isolation.
Tenfold serial dilutions, starting at a dilution of 1:10, of<SUP> </SUP>oropharyngeal fluid were prepared in cell culture infection<SUP> </SUP>medium (McCoy?s medium without serum, supplemented with<SUP> </SUP>5 ?g/ml trypsin). Dilutions were inoculated on MDCK<SUP> </SUP>cells in microtitre plates, which were incubated at 37 ?C<SUP> </SUP>and examined for cytopathic effect after 4 days. Of the samples<SUP> </SUP>that were negative in the microtitre assay, 1 ml was tested<SUP> </SUP>for the presence of virus by inoculating a monolayer in 25 ml<SUP> </SUP>tissue culture flasks. Virus titres were calculated by the Spearman?K?rber<SUP> </SUP>method.<SUP> </SUP>
HI assay.
The HI assay was performed essentially as described previously<SUP> </SUP>(Kendal et al., 1982
) using 0?5% chicken erythrocytes<SUP> </SUP>for haemagglutination and four haemagglutinating units of A/Sw/Best/96<SUP> </SUP>(H1N1) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2).<SUP> </SUP>
ELISA for IgG specific for M2e.
The sequence encoding the complete M2 protein was determined<SUP> </SUP>for A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) and A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). The first<SUP> </SUP>25 N-terminal amino acid residues that form the extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein (M2e) were the same for both subtypes.<SUP> </SUP>A synthetic peptide with the amino acid sequence MSLLTEVETPTRNGWECRY<SUP> </SUP>was made and a conjugate of this peptide with keyhole lipid<SUP> </SUP>haemocyanin was used to coat 96-well ELISA plates (Costar EIA/RIA).<SUP> </SUP>Plates were then blocked with 1% BSA in PBS, incubated with<SUP> </SUP>2-fold serial dilutions of serum samples starting at a dilution<SUP> </SUP>of 1:20, incubated with a MAb against swine IgG1 (23.49.1) conjugated<SUP> </SUP>to HRP and then incubated at room temperature with chromogen/substrate<SUP> </SUP>solution. The absorbance at 450 nm was read with an ELISA<SUP> </SUP>reader (Spectra Reader, SLT Labinstruments) and antibody titres<SUP> </SUP>were expressed as the reciprocal of the sample dilution still<SUP> </SUP>giving an absorbance of 1?0.<SUP> </SUP>
ELISAs for IgG and IgA specific for NP.
ELISAs to measure influenza virus NP-specific IgG and IgA antibodies<SUP> </SUP>in pigs were described recently (Heinen et al., 2000
). Absorbance<SUP> </SUP>and antibody titres were determined as described for the anti-M2e<SUP> </SUP>IgG ELISA.<SUP> </SUP>
Flow cytometric analysis of BALF cells.
The technique that was used to obtain BALF was described previously<SUP> </SUP>(van Leengoed & Kamp, 1989
). Approximately 30 ml PBS<SUP> </SUP>was added to the BALF to give a total volume of 50 ml.<SUP> </SUP>BALF cells were collected by centrifugation at 300 g for<SUP> </SUP>10 min at 4 ?C and washed once with 50 ml<SUP> </SUP>PBS. Cells were then suspended in 1 ml PBS containing 2%<SUP> </SUP>heat-inactivated bovine serum and 0?01% sodium azide<SUP> </SUP>(FACS buffer) and the total number of recovered cells was determined.<SUP> </SUP>Cells were spun down in 96-well U-bottomed microtitre plates<SUP> </SUP>by centrifugation at 230 g for 3 min. The supernatant<SUP> </SUP>was discarded and the cells were incubated for 30 min on<SUP> </SUP>ice with various combinations of MAbs to leukocyte differentiation<SUP> </SUP>antigens. The MAbs used to differentiate myeloid cells were<SUP> </SUP>directed against the following cell markers: SWC3 (clone 74-22-15,<SUP> </SUP>IgG<SUB>1</SUB>), MHC II (clone MSA3, IgG2a), CD14 (clone MY4, Ig2b) (Coulter)<SUP> </SUP>and CD163 (clone CVI 517.2, IgG2b). The MAbs used to differentiate<SUP> </SUP>lymphoid cells were directed against CD2 (clone MSA4, IgG2a),<SUP> </SUP>CD3 (clone ppt3, IgG1), CD4 (clone 74-12-4, IgG2b), CD5 (clone<SUP> </SUP>b53b7, IgG1), CD6 (clone a38b2, IgG1), CD8 (clone 295/33, IgG2a)<SUP> </SUP>and 
T cell receptor (TCR-
) (clone ppt16, IgG2b). These MAbs<SUP> </SUP>were used previously to analyse changes in the phenotype of<SUP> </SUP>leukocytes in the BALF of pigs infected with porcine reproductive<SUP> </SUP>and respiratory syndrome virus (Samsom et al., 2000
). After<SUP> </SUP>incubation, the cells were washed three times with FACS buffer<SUP> </SUP>and then incubated for 30 min on ice with the appropriate<SUP> </SUP>FITC- or PE-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG isotype-specific<SUP> </SUP>antibodies, diluted in FACS buffer. Subsequently, the cells<SUP> </SUP>were washed three times, re-suspended in FACS buffer and transferred<SUP> </SUP>to tubes. Fluorescence was measured using a FACScan flow cytometer<SUP> </SUP>(Becton Dickinson).<SUP> </SUP>
T-cell proliferation assay.
The T-cell proliferation assay to measure influenza virus-specific<SUP> </SUP>T-cell responses of pigs was performed essentially as described<SUP> </SUP>for pseudorabies virus (Kimman et al., 1995
). Briefly, PBMC<SUP> </SUP>were isolated from heparinized blood samples by centrifugation<SUP> </SUP>onto Lymphoprep (Nycomed Pharma A), and were washed twice with<SUP> </SUP>PBS. The isolated PBMC were seeded in 96-well flat-bottom plates<SUP> </SUP>(M29, Greiner) at a density of 5x10<SUP>5</SUP> cells per well in 100 ?l<SUP> </SUP>medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% porcine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine,<SUP> </SUP>50 ?M
-mercaptoethanol, 200 U/ml penicillin,<SUP> </SUP>200 ?g/ml streptomycin and 100 U/ml mycostatin).<SUP> </SUP>To the PBMC, 100 ?l medium containing 10<SUP>5</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB><SUP> </SUP>influenza A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2), a<SUP> </SUP>control sample prepared from non-infected cells (mock control)<SUP> </SUP>or 5 ?g/ml concanavalin A (vitality control) were<SUP> </SUP>added in quadruplicate. After 4 days of incubation at 37 ?C<SUP> </SUP>in a 5% CO<SUB>2</SUB> atmosphere, the cultures were pulsed with 0?4 ?Ci<SUP> </SUP>[<SUP>3</SUP>H]thymidine (Amersham). After 4 h of incubation, cells<SUP> </SUP>were harvested and the incorporated radioactivity was measured<SUP> </SUP>in a Betaplate scintillation counter (Wallac). Proliferation<SUP> </SUP>was expressed as the number of counts (mean of quadruplicate)<SUP> </SUP>of influenza virus-stimulated PBMC minus the number of counts<SUP> </SUP>of the mock control-stimulated PBMC (
c.p.m.).<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Results </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
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Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Clinical signs and virus excretion
Primary inoculation of pigs by aerosol with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2) or A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) virus into the nostrils caused<SUP> </SUP>acute disease. Eight of ten H3N2-inoculated pigs and all H1N1-inoculated<SUP> </SUP>pigs developed fever (<IMG alt=">=" src="http://vir.sgmjournals.org/math/ges.gif" border=0>40 ?C) for at least 1 day between<SUP> </SUP>day 1 and day 6 p.i. Infection with the H1N1 virus was<SUP> </SUP>more severe than with the H3N2 virus, as more pigs had fever<SUP> </SUP>for a longer time. Mean temperatures of all pigs are presented<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 1a
). In both groups, pigs excreted virus for 5 or 6 days<SUP> </SUP>after infection (Table 1
).<SUP> </SUP>
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View larger version (23K):
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 1. (a) Mean temperatures of control pigs (
) and pigs infected with influenza virus A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) (n=10). Later, of the 10 pigs in each group, five were challenged and five were used as contact pigs. Contact pigs were separated before their group-mates were challenged and were then reunited after 24 h. (b) Mean temperatures of pigs after challenge with influenza A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) virus, 6 weeks after primary infection with A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) and of non-immune control pigs (
). Results are presented as means?SD (n=5). Only temperatures of challenged pigs are presented. No fever was detected in the contact pigs in any of the three groups. p.c., Post-challenge.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
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<NOBR>[in this window]
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Table 1. Virus titres in oropharyngeal swabs of pigs after primary infection with A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) and after subsequent challenge of pigs with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
After challenge inoculation with H3N2 at day 42 p.i., fever<SUP> </SUP>was measured in each of the five challenged pigs in the control<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the groups that were previously immunized with<SUP> </SUP>H1N1 (Het-I group) or H3N2 (Hom-I group) (Fig. 1b
). In addition,<SUP> </SUP>virus excretion and transmission to the contact animals was<SUP> </SUP>reduced in the Het-I group compared with the control group (Table<SUP> </SUP>1
), indicating that infection with H1N1 confers heterosubtypic<SUP> </SUP>protection against infection with H3N2. Pigs in the Hom-I group<SUP> </SUP>did not excrete any virus after challenge.<SUP> </SUP>
No fever was detected in the contact pigs in the Hom-I or in<SUP> </SUP>the Het-I group or in the contact pigs of the control group<SUP> </SUP>(data not shown).<SUP> </SUP>
HI responses
No cross-reactivity of HI antibodies from H1N1-infected pigs<SUP> </SUP>was observed with the H3N2 virus, or vice versa, after primary<SUP> </SUP>infection (Fig. 2a
, b
).<SUP> </SUP>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 2. Mean HI titres against the virus strains A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (a) and A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (b) in serum of pigs. At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) or with non-infected cell supernatant (
). At day 42 p.i., pigs were challenged with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). Open symbols represent contact pigs in the three groups. Contact pigs were separated before their group-mates were challenged and were then reunited after 24 h. Results are presented as means?SD (n=5).
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
After challenge, the challenged pigs in the Het-I group developed<SUP> </SUP>an H3N2-specific HI response that was very similar, in both<SUP> </SUP>kinetics and magnitude, to the response developed by the non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control pigs (Fig. 2a
). However, contact pigs in the Het-I group<SUP> </SUP>showed no detectable HI response (2/5) or only a very low HI<SUP> </SUP>response (3/5).<SUP> </SUP>
A slight increase was also observed in the HI titre in the challenged<SUP> </SUP>pigs in the Het-I group to H1N1 (Fig. 2b
), indicating that some<SUP> </SUP>cross-reactive HI antibodies were produced after heterosubtypic<SUP> </SUP>infection.<SUP> </SUP>
M2e-specific serum IgG response and NP-specific serum IgG and nasal IgA response
After primary infection with H1N1 or H3N2, a low IgG response<SUP> </SUP>to M2e was observed. This response was 3-fold higher after H1N1<SUP> </SUP>infection than after H3N2 infection, which was also observed<SUP> </SUP>for the anti-NP IgG response. After challenge, the anti-M2e<SUP> </SUP>titre increased 25-fold in the challenged pigs in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group, whereas it did not increase in the Hom-I group (Fig.<SUP> </SUP>3a
). This strong IgG booster response in the Het-I group against<SUP> </SUP>M2e was not observed against the conserved NP. No increase in<SUP> </SUP>the M2e IgG titre was observed in the contact pigs in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group.<SUP> </SUP>
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<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 3. Mean serum IgG antibody response to M2e (a) and mean serum IgG (b) and nasal IgA (c) antibody responses of pigs to NP. At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) or with non-infected cell supernatant (
). At day 42 p.i., pigs were challenged with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). Open symbols represent contact animals in the three groups (n=5). Contact pigs were separated before their group-mates were challenged and were then reunited after 24 h. Results are presented as means?SD (n=5).
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
The kinetics of the NP-specific IgG and IgA antibody responses<SUP> </SUP>after primary infection with H1N1 were very similar to those<SUP> </SUP>seen after infection with H3N2. However, H1N1-infected pigs<SUP> </SUP>showed a higher serum IgG response (Fig. 3b
), whereas H3N2-infected<SUP> </SUP>pigs showed a higher nasal IgA response (Fig. 3c
).<SUP> </SUP>
After challenge infection with H3N2, a slight secondary NP-specific<SUP> </SUP>IgG response in the challenged pigs was observed in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the Hom-I group (Fig. 3b
). No secondary IgG<SUP> </SUP>response was detected in the contact pigs of the Het-I group.<SUP> </SUP>
After challenge infection, a secondary IgA response was observed<SUP> </SUP>in the Het-I group, which was stronger than that in the Hom-I<SUP> </SUP>group (Fig. 3c
). No secondary IgA response was observed in the<SUP> </SUP>contact pigs of the Hom-I group or in the Het-I group.<SUP> </SUP>
Flow cytometric analysis of BALF cells
With the MAbs used, two phenotypes of myeloid cells were differentiated:<SUP> </SUP>SWC3<SUP>+</SUP> CD163<SUP>-</SUP> CD14<SUP>+</SUP> MHCII<SUP>-</SUP> cells (neutrophil phenotype) and SWC3<SUP>+</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD163<SUP>+</SUP> CD14<SUP>+</SUP> MHCII<SUP>+</SUP> cells (monocyte and macrophage phenotype)<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 4a
).<SUP> </SUP>
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<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 4. (a) Flow cytometry analysis of leukocytes collected from the lungs of pigs. Plots show the two gates separating the lymphocytes from other leukocytes (I) and the percentage of SWC3<SUP>+</SUP> CD163<SUP>-</SUP> neutrophils in the lungs of non-immune pigs, 2 days after inoculation with non-infected cell supernatant (II) or influenza virus-infected cell supernatant (III). (b) Flow cytometry analysis of lymphocytes collected from the lungs of pigs after inoculation with non-infected cell supernatant (I), primary inoculation with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (II) and subsequent challenge with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (III). Cells were double-stained with MAbs directed against CD5 and CD8. These plots of representative samples clearly show the infiltration of CD5<SUP>+</SUP> CD8<SUP>high</SUP> CTLs.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
By comparing the kinetics and percentages of lymphoid cells<SUP> </SUP>stained with all combinations of MAbs, five phenotypes of lymphoid<SUP> </SUP>cells were distinguished. These five phenotypes could all be<SUP> </SUP>seen separately when a combination of MAbs against CD5 and CD8<SUP> </SUP>was used (Fig. 4b
). The lymphoid phenotypes were: CD2<SUP>+</SUP> CD3<SUP>-</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD4<SUP>-</SUP> CD5<SUP>-</SUP> CD6<SUP>-</SUP> CD8<SUP>low</SUP> TCR-
<SUP>-</SUP> (NK phenotype), CD2<SUP>+</SUP> CD3<SUP>+</SUP> CD4<SUP>-</SUP> CD5<SUP>+</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD6<SUP>+</SUP> CD8<SUP>high</SUP> TCR-
<SUP>-</SUP> (CTL phenotype), CD2<SUP>+</SUP> CD3<SUP>+</SUP> CD4<SUP>+</SUP> CD5<SUP>high</SUP> CD6<SUP>+</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD8<SUP>-/low</SUP> TCR-
<SUP>-</SUP> (Th phenotype), CD2<SUP>+</SUP> CD3<SUP>+</SUP> CD4<SUP>-</SUP> CD5<SUP>low</SUP> CD6<SUP>-</SUP> CD8<SUP>-/low</SUP><SUP> </SUP>TCR-
<SUP>+</SUP> (TCR-
<SUP>+</SUP> T-cell phenotype) and a heterogeneous population<SUP> </SUP>of CD5<SUP>-</SUP> CD8<SUP>-</SUP> cells (-/- T cells).<SUP> </SUP>
As reported previously (Samsom et al., 2000
), a population<SUP> </SUP>of large, highly autofluorescent cells (LHAC) and a population<SUP> </SUP>of small, low-autofluorescent cells (SLAC) were distinguished<SUP> </SUP>and these were analysed separately (Fig. 4a
). It was shown that<SUP> </SUP>the LHAC consisted solely of myeloid (SWC3<SUP>+</SUP>) cells. However,<SUP> </SUP>a large proportion of the SLAC at days 2 and 4 after infection<SUP> </SUP>was also SWC3<SUP>+</SUP>. These were SWC3<SUP>+</SUP> CD163<SUP>-</SUP> neutrophils, which massively<SUP> </SUP>infiltrated the lung (Fig. 4a
), as described previously (Haesebrouck<SUP> </SUP>& Pensaert, 1986
; Van Reeth et al., 1999
). Corrections<SUP> </SUP>were therefore made such that the neutrophils were subtracted<SUP> </SUP>from the lymphoid population and added to the myeloid population<SUP> </SUP>and the percentages of the different cell phenotypes within<SUP> </SUP>the two populations could be calculated. Because the cell numbers<SUP> </SUP>collected from the BALF of pigs varied too much between samples,<SUP> </SUP>we did not use the cell counts to calculate the absolute numbers<SUP> </SUP>of cells of each phenotype.<SUP> </SUP>
All changes in the phenotype of the BALF myeloid and lymphoid<SUP> </SUP>leukocyte populations after primary and secondary infection<SUP> </SUP>of the pigs are shown (Fig. 5a
, b
). After primary infection<SUP> </SUP>with H1N1 or H3N2, an acute inflammatory response characterized<SUP> </SUP>by a massive increase of neutrophils from 6 to 40% (day 2 p.i.)<SUP> </SUP>of all leukocytes in the lungs was observed. After challenge,<SUP> </SUP>the infiltration was the same in the non-immune control group,<SUP> </SUP>reduced in the Het-I group and absent in the Hom-I group (Fig.<SUP> </SUP>5a
).<SUP> </SUP>
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<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1e1e1><TD vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ffffff>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 5. (a) Changes in the leukocyte population in the lungs of pigs (n=5). At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) or with non-infected cell supernatant (
). At day 42 p.i., pigs were challenged with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). (b) Changes in the lymphocyte population in the lungs of pigs (n=5). At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
) or with non-infected cell supernatant (
). At day 42 p.i., pigs were challenged with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). Results are presented as means?SD (n=5).
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
From day 8 p.i., the percentage of lymphocytes in the lungs<SUP> </SUP>of both H1N1- and H3N2-infected pigs was higher than in the<SUP> </SUP>control pigs and remained elevated until day 42 p.i. Further<SUP> </SUP>analysis of the different phenotypes within the lymphocyte population<SUP> </SUP>shows the following sequence of events after H3N2 infection:<SUP> </SUP>(i) an increase in the percentage of NK cells starting at day<SUP> </SUP>2 p.i., (ii) a peak in percentage of Th cells between days<SUP> </SUP>4 and 11 p.i., (iii) a massive infiltration of CTLs on<SUP> </SUP>day 8 p.i., leading to a decrease in the percentage of<SUP> </SUP>NK cells at this time-point, (iv) the temporary disappearance<SUP> </SUP>of the CTLs from the lungs around day 11 p.i. and (v) a<SUP> </SUP>long-lived increase in the percentage of CTLs in the lungs and<SUP> </SUP>the decrease in NK cells to the pre-infection level. The same<SUP> </SUP>sequence of events was also observed after H1N1 infection, but<SUP> </SUP>developed faster than after H3N2 infection (Fig. 5b
).<SUP> </SUP>
Upon challenge infection on day 42 p.i., a second increase<SUP> </SUP>in the percentage of CTLs was observed in the Het-I group but<SUP> </SUP>not in the Hom-I group. The secondary infiltration of CTLs after<SUP> </SUP>H3N2 challenge infection (day 42 p.i.) in the Het-I group<SUP> </SUP>was not observed to be any faster than after primary infection<SUP> </SUP>in the control group, and even later than after primary H1N1<SUP> </SUP>infection (day 0 p.i.) (Fig. 5b
).<SUP> </SUP>
Influenza virus-specific T-cell response
After infection with both H1N1 and H3N2, an influenza virus-specific<SUP> </SUP>T-cell response of PBMC was measured in the lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>assay from day 7 p.i. onwards (Fig. 6a
). The T-cell proliferation<SUP> </SUP>was partially subtype-specific. PBMC of pigs infected with H1N1<SUP> </SUP>virus showed a higher response when stimulated with A/Sw/Best/96<SUP> </SUP>(H1N1) than with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2), while the opposite<SUP> </SUP>was true for PBMC of pigs infected with H3N2 (Fig. 6a
, b
).<SUP> </SUP>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 6. (a) Mean influenza virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation responses of PBMC of pigs when stimulated with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (closed symbols) or A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (open symbols). At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (
,
) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (
,
) or with non-infected cell supernatant (
,
). At day 42 p.i., pigs were challenged with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). (b) Mean influenza virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation responses of PBMC of contact pigs in the three groups. Contact pigs were separated before their group-mates were challenged and were then reunited after 24 h. Results are presented as means?SD (n=5).
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
Upon secondary challenge infection on day 42 p.i., an increase<SUP> </SUP>in the T-cell proliferation response was observed in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the Hom-I group. In both the challenged pigs<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 6a
) and the contact pigs (Fig. 6b
) in the Het-I group,<SUP> </SUP>a secondary lymphoproliferation response was observed.<SUP> </SUP>
The vitality of PBMC was the same throughout the experimental<SUP> </SUP>period in all groups.<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Discussion </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
TOP
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I), the immunity induced by infection<SUP> </SUP>with an influenza virus of one subtype against a subsequent<SUP> </SUP>infection with a virus of another subtype, has been observed<SUP> </SUP>in mice (Epstein et al., 1997
; Flynn et al., 1998
; Liang et<SUP> </SUP>al., 1994
; Nguyen et al., 1999
). In humans, it was shown to<SUP> </SUP>be weak (Steinhoff et al., 1993
), although occasional examples<SUP> </SUP>have been reported (Sonoguchi et al., 1985
). Here, we report<SUP> </SUP>the existence of clear Het-I in pigs, using swine viruses of<SUP> </SUP>two subtypes that are currently co-circulating in the pig population<SUP> </SUP>in Europe. Infection with a swine influenza virus of subtype<SUP> </SUP>H1N1 was shown to protect pigs partially against infection with<SUP> </SUP>a virus of subtype H3N2. After challenge with H3N2, pigs infected<SUP> </SUP>previously with H1N1 did not get fever and showed reduced virus<SUP> </SUP>excretion compared with non-immune control pigs. As a consequence,<SUP> </SUP>less virus was transmitted to the unchallenged group-mates and<SUP> </SUP>virus excretion by these pigs could not be detected by virus<SUP> </SUP>isolation. Although Het-I does not provide the complete protection<SUP> </SUP>against infection seen with Hom-I, it could be sufficient to<SUP> </SUP>halt the spread of an influenza virus infection in a pig population<SUP> </SUP>in the field.<SUP> </SUP>
The predominant role of HA- and NA-specific virus-neutralizing<SUP> </SUP>IgA and IgG antibodies in protection against secondary infection<SUP> </SUP>with a homologous influenza A virus is well established. However,<SUP> </SUP>the immune mechanisms responsible for Het-I are incompletely<SUP> </SUP>defined. In the present study, the responses of different immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms to primary and secondary infection were monitored<SUP> </SUP>to gain insight into the immunity underlying the suboptimal<SUP> </SUP>protection against infection with a heterologous or, in our<SUP> </SUP>case, heterosubtypic virus. This insight might suggest approaches<SUP> </SUP>to enhance the induction by vaccination of responses leading<SUP> </SUP>to broad protection.<SUP> </SUP>
HI antibodies after infection with H1N1 did not cross-react<SUP> </SUP>with the H3N2 virus in the HI assay and, therefore, pre-challenge<SUP> </SUP>HI antibodies do not seem to be responsible for the observed<SUP> </SUP>Het-I. However, after challenge with H3N2, an increase in HI<SUP> </SUP>titre was also observed against H1N1, which suggests that cross-reactive<SUP> </SUP>HI antibodies are produced. HA-specific virus-neutralizing antibodies<SUP> </SUP>that cross-react between subtypes have been reported (Okuno<SUP> </SUP>et al., 1994
; Smirnov et al., 1999
). In addition, helper T<SUP> </SUP>cells specific for influenza virus internal proteins can enhance<SUP> </SUP>the HI antibody response (Russell & Liew, 1979
). In this<SUP> </SUP>manner, subtype-specific antibodies will be produced faster<SUP> </SUP>and can contribute to Het-I, in addition to cross-reactive antibodies.<SUP> </SUP>In the present study, the kinetics and magnitude of the H3-specific<SUP> </SUP>HI antibody response after challenge of pigs in the Het-I group<SUP> </SUP>was the same as in the non-immune control group, which seems<SUP> </SUP>to disagree with this concept. However, pre-existing immunity<SUP> </SUP>can enhance the response to challenge infection, but can also<SUP> </SUP>inhibit the response by reducing antigen exposure. Therefore,<SUP> </SUP>it is difficult to compare the response to challenge infection<SUP> </SUP>with the response to injection with a fixed quantity of antigen,<SUP> </SUP>as studied by Russell & Liew (1979)
.<SUP> </SUP>
Interestingly, the antibody response to the conserved extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein (M2e) was clearly boosted by the heterosubtypic<SUP> </SUP>infection, as the serum anti-M2e antibody titre increased 25-fold<SUP> </SUP>between day 4 and day 8 post-challenge. In comparison, the antibody<SUP> </SUP>titre to the also conserved NP only increased 2-fold. Therapeutic<SUP> </SUP>treatment with an M2e-specific MAb was shown to reduce pulmonary<SUP> </SUP>virus titres 100- to 1000-fold in mice (Mozdzanowska et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1999
; Treanor et al., 1990
). It is therefore conceivable that<SUP> </SUP>pre- and post-challenge anti-M2e antibodies play a significant<SUP> </SUP>role in the early reduction of virus replication. The M2-specific<SUP> </SUP>antibody response in convalescent humans has been reported to<SUP> </SUP>be low and not consistently detectable (Black et al., 1993
).<SUP> </SUP>The present study shows that, in pigs, the anti-M2e antibody<SUP> </SUP>response to a primary influenza virus infection is indeed low<SUP> </SUP>compared with the response after heterosubtypic infection. The<SUP> </SUP>current porcine vaccine does not induce a detectable anti-M2e<SUP> </SUP>antibody response (unpublished result). Enhancement of the anti-M2e<SUP> </SUP>response by vaccination may provide increased Het-I, as was<SUP> </SUP>suggested previously for humans (Mozdzanowska et al., 1999
;<SUP> </SUP>Treanor et al., 1990
). Interestingly, it was shown that, in<SUP> </SUP>the proper circumstances, vaccination with the extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein in the absence of other influenza virus<SUP> </SUP>proteins can reduce virus infection in mice (Neirynck et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1999
).<SUP> </SUP>
The percentage of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> CTLs in the lungs of pigs increased from<SUP> </SUP>approximately 10% before primary infection to more than 30%<SUP> </SUP>after primary infection and more than 50% after secondary infection.<SUP> </SUP>The secondary challenge only increased the percentage of CTLs<SUP> </SUP>in the lungs of heterosubtypically immune pigs, indicating that<SUP> </SUP>CTLs play a role in Het-I. The CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cell arm of the cellular<SUP> </SUP>response has been proposed to be the major mediator of Het-I,<SUP> </SUP>and many studies have indeed proved that CTLs contribute to<SUP> </SUP>protection in mice (Epstein et al., 2000
; Mozdzanowska et al.,<SUP> </SUP>2000
; Topham & Doherty, 1998
; Ulmer et al., 1998
). A<SUP> </SUP>large proportion of these cells recognizes conserved epitopes<SUP> </SUP>of NP. More than 15% of CTLs in the lungs after primary infection<SUP> </SUP>and more than 65 % after heterosubtypic challenge were shown<SUP> </SUP>to be specific for the immunodominant NP<SUB>366?374</SUB> peptide<SUP> </SUP>(Doherty & Christensen, 2000
; Flynn et al., 1998
, 1999
<SUP> </SUP>). Moreover, challenge was performed 7 months after priming<SUP> </SUP>of mice, removing any concern that CTL memory is of short duration.<SUP> </SUP>However, it was also shown that the secondary CTL response develops<SUP> </SUP>in the mesenteric lymph nodes and that it takes at least 4?5<SUP> </SUP>days before the effectors are available in the infected respiratory<SUP> </SUP>tract of mice. In the present study, the infiltration of CTLs<SUP> </SUP>into the lungs after secondary infection with the H3N2 virus<SUP> </SUP>was not observed any earlier than after primary H3N2 infection<SUP> </SUP>and even later than after primary H1N1 infection. Such a delay<SUP> </SUP>could be too long for CTLs to make a major contribution to clearance<SUP> </SUP>of the ?hit-and-run? influenza virus. In line with<SUP> </SUP>this idea, it was shown that the CTL response was capable of<SUP> </SUP>handling all but a very low challenge dose of influenza virus<SUP> </SUP>in the absence of antibody (Riberdy et al., 1999
). In the present<SUP> </SUP>study, the contact pigs in the Het-I group showed a similar<SUP> </SUP>lymphoproliferation response as the challenged pigs, but hardly<SUP> </SUP>any serum HI antibody response, anti-M2e antibody response or<SUP> </SUP>nasal anti-NP antibody response. Therefore, it seems that the<SUP> </SUP>contact pigs were indeed able to cope with the low dose of transmitted<SUP> </SUP>virus via a T-cell response rather than a B-cell response.<SUP> </SUP>
An infiltration of NK cells into the lungs was observed between<SUP> </SUP>day 0 and day 15 after primary infection. These cells probably<SUP> </SUP>kill influenza virus-infected epithelial cells in the early<SUP> </SUP>stage of primary infection in a non-specific manner but, at<SUP> </SUP>a later stage of the primary infection, as well as in the early<SUP> </SUP>stage of secondary infection, they are possibly targeted to<SUP> </SUP>infected host cells by antibodies. Anti-M2e MAbs and anti-NA<SUP> </SUP>MAbs that do not have virus-neutralizing activity were suggested<SUP> </SUP>to target effectors of the innate immune system to infected<SUP> </SUP>cells in mice (Mozdzanowska et al., 1999
). An influx of CD4<SUP>+</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD8<SUP>-/low</SUP> Th cells was observed between day 0 and day 11 p.i.<SUP> </SUP>CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T cell-mediated recovery from influenza virus infection<SUP> </SUP>was reported to be mediated by the promotion of an antiviral<SUP> </SUP>antibody response (Mozdzanowska et al., 1997
; Topham &<SUP> </SUP>Doherty, 1998
) and a CTL response (Riberdy et al., 2000
).<SUP> </SUP>In addition, CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T cells have been suggested to kill infected<SUP> </SUP>cells in an MHCII-restricted manner (De Bruin et al., 2000
;<SUP> </SUP>Yasukawa et al., 1988
). The role of TCR-
<SUP>+</SUP> T cells in protection<SUP> </SUP>is unclear. In mice, they have been reported to increase greatly<SUP> </SUP>in frequency during the recovery phase from influenza pneumonia<SUP> </SUP>(Doherty et al., 1989
), but this was not observed in pigs in<SUP> </SUP>the present study.<SUP> </SUP>
The lymphoproliferation response increased after challenge in<SUP> </SUP>the Het-I group, but not in the Hom-I group. The pigs in the<SUP> </SUP>Hom-I group are probably so well protected that the challenge<SUP> </SUP>virus is cleared from the lungs without inducing a secondary<SUP> </SUP>lymphoproliferation response. The increase in lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>seems to correspond to the increase in the percentage of CTLs<SUP> </SUP>in the lungs, which was also observed only in the Het-I group.<SUP> </SUP>However, in a previous experiment, in which pigs were primary-infected<SUP> </SUP>and then challenged with the homologous virus 9 weeks later,<SUP> </SUP>a secondary lymphoproliferation response, but no increase in<SUP> </SUP>the percentage of CTLs in the lungs, was observed (unpublished<SUP> </SUP>results). In Hom-I, lymphoproliferation probably mainly supports<SUP> </SUP>an antibody response whereas, in Het-I, it also supports a CTL<SUP> </SUP>response. The lymphoproliferation response was subtype-specific,<SUP> </SUP>as it was higher when PBMC from infected pigs were stimulated<SUP> </SUP>with the homologous virus than with the heterosubtypic virus.<SUP> </SUP>This could be due to the fact that the proliferation depends<SUP> </SUP>partially on T cells and on antigen presentation by B cells<SUP> </SUP>that recognize epitopes of the glycoproteins.<SUP> </SUP>
In conclusion, the present study shows Het-I in pigs. Furthermore,<SUP> </SUP>it provides additional evidence for the notion that cross-reactive<SUP> </SUP>antibodies and CTLs both play a role in Het-I. Het-I provides<SUP> </SUP>a much lower level of protection than Hom-I because antibodies,<SUP> </SUP>antigen-presenting B cells, Th cells and part of the CTLs are<SUP> </SUP>subtype-specific and because the less-protective antibody response<SUP> </SUP>to conserved epitopes is low. In particular, the antibody response<SUP> </SUP>to the conserved M2e after primary infection is suboptimal.<SUP> </SUP>This makes M2e an attractive candidate for vaccine-induced broad-spectrum<SUP> </SUP>immunity. Additional conserved epitopes to which protective<SUP> </SUP>immunity can be induced may be discovered in the future. Although<SUP> </SUP>Het-I does not provide the complete protection against infection<SUP> </SUP>seen with Hom-I, it caused a pronounced reduction in virus replication<SUP> </SUP>and fever. Prevention of all virus replication after challenge<SUP> </SUP>may not be a realistic goal in cross-protection, but a significant<SUP> </SUP>reduction in virus replication and clinical disease may well<SUP> </SUP>be. For humans, such a level of protection could be vital in<SUP> </SUP>the event that the vaccine strain does not match the circulating<SUP> </SUP>strain or in a future pandemic. For pigs, the level of protection<SUP> </SUP>could be sufficient to prevent virus spread if the vaccine strain<SUP> </SUP>does not match the circulating strain.<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> Acknowledgments </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The authors would like to thank Cheri Middel for his assistance<SUP> </SUP>in performing the ELISAs and Professor A. D. M. E. Osterhaus,<SUP> </SUP>Professor J. T. van Oirschot and Dr P. J. G. M. Steverink for<SUP> </SUP>their critical review of the manuscript.<SUP> </SUP>
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</TD><TH vAlign=center align=left width="95%"> References </TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellPadding=5 align=right border=1><TBODY><TR><TH align=left>
TOP
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
</TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Journal of General Virology (2001), 82, 2697-2707.
? 2001 Society for General Microbiology
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Respiratory and systemic humoral and cellular immune responses of pigs to a heterosubtypic influenza A virus infection
</NOBR><NOBR>Paul P. Heinen<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR>, <NOBR>Els A. de Boer-Luijtze<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR> and <NOBR>Andre T. J. Bianchi<SUP>1</SUP></NOBR>
Department of Mammalian Virology, Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad BV), PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands<SUP>1</SUP>
Author for correspondence: Paul Heinen. Fax +31 320 238668. e-mail p.p.heinen@id.wag-ur.nl<SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!-- var u = "p.p.heinen", d = "id.wag-ur.nl"; document.getElementById("em0").innerHTML = '<a href="mailto:' + u + '@' + d + '">' + u + '@' + d + '<\/a>'//--></SCRIPT>
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The level of heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I) and the immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms stimulated by a heterosubtypic influenza virus infection<SUP> </SUP>were investigated in pigs. Pigs are natural hosts for influenza<SUP> </SUP>virus and, like humans, they host both subtypes H1N1 and H3N2.<SUP> </SUP>Marked Het-I was observed when pigs were infected with H1N1<SUP> </SUP>and subsequently challenged with H3N2. After challenge with<SUP> </SUP>H3N2, pigs infected earlier with H1N1 did not develop fever<SUP> </SUP>and showed reduced virus excretion compared with non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control pigs. In addition, virus transmission to unchallenged<SUP> </SUP>group-mates could be shown by virus isolation in the non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control group but not in the group infected previously with<SUP> </SUP>H1N1. Pigs infected previously with homologous H3N2 virus were<SUP> </SUP>protected completely. After challenge with H3N2, pigs infected<SUP> </SUP>previously with H1N1 showed a considerable increase in serum<SUP> </SUP>IgG titre to the conserved extracellular domain of M2 but not<SUP> </SUP>to the conserved nucleoprotein. These results suggest that antibodies<SUP> </SUP>against external conserved epitopes can have an important role<SUP> </SUP>in broad-spectrum immunity. After primary infection with both<SUP> </SUP>H1N1 and H3N2, a long-lived increase was observed in the percentage<SUP> </SUP>of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells in the lungs and in the lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>response in the blood. Upon challenge with H3N2, pigs infected<SUP> </SUP>previously with H1N1 again showed an increase in the percentage<SUP> </SUP>of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells in the lungs, whereas pigs infected previously<SUP> </SUP>with H3N2 did not, suggesting that CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells also have a<SUP> </SUP>role in Het-I. To confer broad-spectrum immunity, future vaccines<SUP> </SUP>should induce antibodies and CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells against conserved<SUP> </SUP>antigens.<SUP> </SUP>
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Influenza A virus expresses on its membrane two immunogenic,<SUP> </SUP>but variable proteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase<SUP> </SUP>(NA). In humans, new epidemic strains arise every 1?2<SUP> </SUP>years as a result of selected point mutations in these two surface<SUP> </SUP>glycoproteins, a phenomenon known as antigenic drift. Sometimes,<SUP> </SUP>an exchange of the HA and/or NA gene segment with an animal<SUP> </SUP>virus occurs, a phenomenon known as antigenic shift, and this<SUP> </SUP>may result in a pandemic. Current human influenza vaccines are<SUP> </SUP>updated annually to induce immune responses specific for the<SUP> </SUP>prevalent strains.<SUP> </SUP>
Antigenic drift is generally ascribed to immune pressure, i.e.<SUP> </SUP>the influence of antibodies induced by a previous infection,<SUP> </SUP>or by vaccination. In pigs, antigenic drift of influenza viruses<SUP> </SUP>seems to be more limited than in humans (Brown et al., 1997








Instead of the regular updating of vaccine strains, it might<SUP> </SUP>be possible to induce broadly reactive immune responses that<SUP> </SUP>could provide protection when the vaccine does not match circulating<SUP> </SUP>strains, perhaps even against a new subtype. Broadly reactive<SUP> </SUP>responses against influenza A virus have been studied extensively<SUP> </SUP>in mice (Kurimura & Hirano, 1973











In this study, the level of Het-I to infection with an H3N2<SUP> </SUP>virus after primary infection with an H1N1 virus and the immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms stimulated were investigated in pigs. The H3N2 virus<SUP> </SUP>was transmitted from humans to pigs during the 1968 Hong Kong<SUP> </SUP>pandemic and the H1N1 virus from birds to pigs in Northern Europe<SUP> </SUP>in 1979. In 1984, a genetic reassortment between the two subtypes<SUP> </SUP>occurred, resulting in an H3N2 virus carrying all the proteins<SUP> </SUP>of the avian H1N1 virus except for HA and NA (Castrucci et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1993

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The influenza virus strains A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) and A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2) were isolated from pneumonic lung tissue of pigs from<SUP> </SUP>outbreaks of influenza during a recent field survey (Loeffen<SUP> </SUP>et al., 1999


Thirty Dutch Landrace pigs were obtained from the specific-pathogen-free<SUP> </SUP>herd of the Institute for Animal Science and Health. The pigs<SUP> </SUP>were divided into three groups of 10 and each group was housed<SUP> </SUP>in a separate room. At the age of 10 weeks, pigs were inoculated<SUP> </SUP>with live virus, in the nostrils, with an aerosol produced by<SUP> </SUP>nebulization of 2 ml culture supernatant, using an airbrush<SUP> </SUP>device (model no. 100LG; Badger). Pigs in the Het-I group were<SUP> </SUP>immunized with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> of the field isolate A/Sw/Best/96<SUP> </SUP>(H1N1). Pigs in the homologous immunity (Hom-I) group were immunized<SUP> </SUP>with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). Pigs in the control group were<SUP> </SUP>inoculated with uninfected culture supernatant and were used<SUP> </SUP>as challenge controls. At day 42 post-inoculation (p.i.), 6<SUP> </SUP>weeks after primary infection, five of the pigs in each group<SUP> </SUP>were challenged with an aerosol of the field isolate A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2). The other five pigs of each group were kept apart for<SUP> </SUP>24 h and then reunited with their challenged group-mates<SUP> </SUP>to determine whether virus transmission occurred in the presence<SUP> </SUP>of Hom-I and Het-I and in the absence of immunity. The experiment<SUP> </SUP>was approved by the institute?s ethical committee for<SUP> </SUP>experiments in animals.<SUP> </SUP>

Rectal temperatures of all pigs were measured with a thermometer<SUP> </SUP>(C 402 Terumo Digital Clinical, Vetin-Aacofarma) and oropharyngeal<SUP> </SUP>fluid was collected daily for 8 days following primary infection<SUP> </SUP>(days 0?8 p.i.) and challenge inoculation (days 42?50 p.i.).<SUP> </SUP>Blood was collected from the five challenged pigs at days 0,<SUP> </SUP>3, 7, 10, 18, 25, 31, 38, 46, 50, 53 and 59 p.i. and from<SUP> </SUP>the five contact pigs at days 38, 46, 50, 53 and 59 p.i.<SUP> </SUP>Serum was collected to determine HI antibody titres in the HI<SUP> </SUP>assay and titres of IgG antibodies specific for the extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of M2 (M2e) and for the nucleoprotein (NP) in ELISAs.<SUP> </SUP>Heparinized blood was collected for the isolation of peripheral<SUP> </SUP>blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to be used in a T-cell proliferation<SUP> </SUP>assay. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and nasal swabs (NS)<SUP> </SUP>(Medical Wire & Equipment Co.) of the challenged pigs were<SUP> </SUP>collected at days 0, 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 22, 29, 39, 44, 46, 50,<SUP> </SUP>53 and 57 p.i. To collect NS and BALF, animals were anaesthetized<SUP> </SUP>by injection (ketamine, midazolam, medetomidine). To avoid excessive<SUP> </SUP>interference with virus transmission, no BALF was collected<SUP> </SUP>from the contact pigs. NS was collected to determine antibody<SUP> </SUP>titres in the anti-NP IgA ELISA and BALF to monitor the changes<SUP> </SUP>in phenotypes of BALF cells by flow cytometry.<SUP> </SUP>

Tenfold serial dilutions, starting at a dilution of 1:10, of<SUP> </SUP>oropharyngeal fluid were prepared in cell culture infection<SUP> </SUP>medium (McCoy?s medium without serum, supplemented with<SUP> </SUP>5 ?g/ml trypsin). Dilutions were inoculated on MDCK<SUP> </SUP>cells in microtitre plates, which were incubated at 37 ?C<SUP> </SUP>and examined for cytopathic effect after 4 days. Of the samples<SUP> </SUP>that were negative in the microtitre assay, 1 ml was tested<SUP> </SUP>for the presence of virus by inoculating a monolayer in 25 ml<SUP> </SUP>tissue culture flasks. Virus titres were calculated by the Spearman?K?rber<SUP> </SUP>method.<SUP> </SUP>

The HI assay was performed essentially as described previously<SUP> </SUP>(Kendal et al., 1982


The sequence encoding the complete M2 protein was determined<SUP> </SUP>for A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) and A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2). The first<SUP> </SUP>25 N-terminal amino acid residues that form the extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein (M2e) were the same for both subtypes.<SUP> </SUP>A synthetic peptide with the amino acid sequence MSLLTEVETPTRNGWECRY<SUP> </SUP>was made and a conjugate of this peptide with keyhole lipid<SUP> </SUP>haemocyanin was used to coat 96-well ELISA plates (Costar EIA/RIA).<SUP> </SUP>Plates were then blocked with 1% BSA in PBS, incubated with<SUP> </SUP>2-fold serial dilutions of serum samples starting at a dilution<SUP> </SUP>of 1:20, incubated with a MAb against swine IgG1 (23.49.1) conjugated<SUP> </SUP>to HRP and then incubated at room temperature with chromogen/substrate<SUP> </SUP>solution. The absorbance at 450 nm was read with an ELISA<SUP> </SUP>reader (Spectra Reader, SLT Labinstruments) and antibody titres<SUP> </SUP>were expressed as the reciprocal of the sample dilution still<SUP> </SUP>giving an absorbance of 1?0.<SUP> </SUP>

ELISAs to measure influenza virus NP-specific IgG and IgA antibodies<SUP> </SUP>in pigs were described recently (Heinen et al., 2000


The technique that was used to obtain BALF was described previously<SUP> </SUP>(van Leengoed & Kamp, 1989







The T-cell proliferation assay to measure influenza virus-specific<SUP> </SUP>T-cell responses of pigs was performed essentially as described<SUP> </SUP>for pseudorabies virus (Kimman et al., 1995



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Clinical signs and virus excretion
Primary inoculation of pigs by aerosol with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Oedenrode/96<SUP> </SUP>(H3N2) or A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) virus into the nostrils caused<SUP> </SUP>acute disease. Eight of ten H3N2-inoculated pigs and all H1N1-inoculated<SUP> </SUP>pigs developed fever (<IMG alt=">=" src="http://vir.sgmjournals.org/math/ges.gif" border=0>40 ?C) for at least 1 day between<SUP> </SUP>day 1 and day 6 p.i. Infection with the H1N1 virus was<SUP> </SUP>more severe than with the H3N2 virus, as more pigs had fever<SUP> </SUP>for a longer time. Mean temperatures of all pigs are presented<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 1a


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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 1. (a) Mean temperatures of control pigs (






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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Table 1. Virus titres in oropharyngeal swabs of pigs after primary infection with A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) or A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) and after subsequent challenge of pigs with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2)
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After challenge inoculation with H3N2 at day 42 p.i., fever<SUP> </SUP>was measured in each of the five challenged pigs in the control<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the groups that were previously immunized with<SUP> </SUP>H1N1 (Het-I group) or H3N2 (Hom-I group) (Fig. 1b


No fever was detected in the contact pigs in the Hom-I or in<SUP> </SUP>the Het-I group or in the contact pigs of the control group<SUP> </SUP>(data not shown).<SUP> </SUP>
HI responses
No cross-reactivity of HI antibodies from H1N1-infected pigs<SUP> </SUP>was observed with the H3N2 virus, or vice versa, after primary<SUP> </SUP>infection (Fig. 2a


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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 2. Mean HI titres against the virus strains A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (a) and A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (b) in serum of pigs. At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (



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After challenge, the challenged pigs in the Het-I group developed<SUP> </SUP>an H3N2-specific HI response that was very similar, in both<SUP> </SUP>kinetics and magnitude, to the response developed by the non-immune<SUP> </SUP>control pigs (Fig. 2a

A slight increase was also observed in the HI titre in the challenged<SUP> </SUP>pigs in the Het-I group to H1N1 (Fig. 2b

M2e-specific serum IgG response and NP-specific serum IgG and nasal IgA response
After primary infection with H1N1 or H3N2, a low IgG response<SUP> </SUP>to M2e was observed. This response was 3-fold higher after H1N1<SUP> </SUP>infection than after H3N2 infection, which was also observed<SUP> </SUP>for the anti-NP IgG response. After challenge, the anti-M2e<SUP> </SUP>titre increased 25-fold in the challenged pigs in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group, whereas it did not increase in the Hom-I group (Fig.<SUP> </SUP>3a

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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 3. Mean serum IgG antibody response to M2e (a) and mean serum IgG (b) and nasal IgA (c) antibody responses of pigs to NP. At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (



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The kinetics of the NP-specific IgG and IgA antibody responses<SUP> </SUP>after primary infection with H1N1 were very similar to those<SUP> </SUP>seen after infection with H3N2. However, H1N1-infected pigs<SUP> </SUP>showed a higher serum IgG response (Fig. 3b


After challenge infection with H3N2, a slight secondary NP-specific<SUP> </SUP>IgG response in the challenged pigs was observed in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the Hom-I group (Fig. 3b

After challenge infection, a secondary IgA response was observed<SUP> </SUP>in the Het-I group, which was stronger than that in the Hom-I<SUP> </SUP>group (Fig. 3c

Flow cytometric analysis of BALF cells
With the MAbs used, two phenotypes of myeloid cells were differentiated:<SUP> </SUP>SWC3<SUP>+</SUP> CD163<SUP>-</SUP> CD14<SUP>+</SUP> MHCII<SUP>-</SUP> cells (neutrophil phenotype) and SWC3<SUP>+</SUP><SUP> </SUP>CD163<SUP>+</SUP> CD14<SUP>+</SUP> MHCII<SUP>+</SUP> cells (monocyte and macrophage phenotype)<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 4a

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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 4. (a) Flow cytometry analysis of leukocytes collected from the lungs of pigs. Plots show the two gates separating the lymphocytes from other leukocytes (I) and the percentage of SWC3<SUP>+</SUP> CD163<SUP>-</SUP> neutrophils in the lungs of non-immune pigs, 2 days after inoculation with non-infected cell supernatant (II) or influenza virus-infected cell supernatant (III). (b) Flow cytometry analysis of lymphocytes collected from the lungs of pigs after inoculation with non-infected cell supernatant (I), primary inoculation with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (II) and subsequent challenge with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (III). Cells were double-stained with MAbs directed against CD5 and CD8. These plots of representative samples clearly show the infiltration of CD5<SUP>+</SUP> CD8<SUP>high</SUP> CTLs.
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By comparing the kinetics and percentages of lymphoid cells<SUP> </SUP>stained with all combinations of MAbs, five phenotypes of lymphoid<SUP> </SUP>cells were distinguished. These five phenotypes could all be<SUP> </SUP>seen separately when a combination of MAbs against CD5 and CD8<SUP> </SUP>was used (Fig. 4b











As reported previously (Samsom et al., 2000





All changes in the phenotype of the BALF myeloid and lymphoid<SUP> </SUP>leukocyte populations after primary and secondary infection<SUP> </SUP>of the pigs are shown (Fig. 5a



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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 5. (a) Changes in the leukocyte population in the lungs of pigs (n=5). At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (






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From day 8 p.i., the percentage of lymphocytes in the lungs<SUP> </SUP>of both H1N1- and H3N2-infected pigs was higher than in the<SUP> </SUP>control pigs and remained elevated until day 42 p.i. Further<SUP> </SUP>analysis of the different phenotypes within the lymphocyte population<SUP> </SUP>shows the following sequence of events after H3N2 infection:<SUP> </SUP>(i) an increase in the percentage of NK cells starting at day<SUP> </SUP>2 p.i., (ii) a peak in percentage of Th cells between days<SUP> </SUP>4 and 11 p.i., (iii) a massive infiltration of CTLs on<SUP> </SUP>day 8 p.i., leading to a decrease in the percentage of<SUP> </SUP>NK cells at this time-point, (iv) the temporary disappearance<SUP> </SUP>of the CTLs from the lungs around day 11 p.i. and (v) a<SUP> </SUP>long-lived increase in the percentage of CTLs in the lungs and<SUP> </SUP>the decrease in NK cells to the pre-infection level. The same<SUP> </SUP>sequence of events was also observed after H1N1 infection, but<SUP> </SUP>developed faster than after H3N2 infection (Fig. 5b

Upon challenge infection on day 42 p.i., a second increase<SUP> </SUP>in the percentage of CTLs was observed in the Het-I group but<SUP> </SUP>not in the Hom-I group. The secondary infiltration of CTLs after<SUP> </SUP>H3N2 challenge infection (day 42 p.i.) in the Het-I group<SUP> </SUP>was not observed to be any faster than after primary infection<SUP> </SUP>in the control group, and even later than after primary H1N1<SUP> </SUP>infection (day 0 p.i.) (Fig. 5b

Influenza virus-specific T-cell response
After infection with both H1N1 and H3N2, an influenza virus-specific<SUP> </SUP>T-cell response of PBMC was measured in the lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>assay from day 7 p.i. onwards (Fig. 6a



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</NOBR> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Fig. 6. (a) Mean influenza virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation responses of PBMC of pigs when stimulated with A/Sw/Oedenrode/96 (H3N2) (closed symbols) or A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (open symbols). At day 0 p.i., pigs were inoculated with 10<SUP>8</SUP> TCID<SUB>50</SUB> A/Sw/Best/96 (H1N1) (






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Upon secondary challenge infection on day 42 p.i., an increase<SUP> </SUP>in the T-cell proliferation response was observed in the Het-I<SUP> </SUP>group but not in the Hom-I group. In both the challenged pigs<SUP> </SUP>(Fig. 6a


The vitality of PBMC was the same throughout the experimental<SUP> </SUP>period in all groups.<SUP> </SUP>
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Heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I), the immunity induced by infection<SUP> </SUP>with an influenza virus of one subtype against a subsequent<SUP> </SUP>infection with a virus of another subtype, has been observed<SUP> </SUP>in mice (Epstein et al., 1997






The predominant role of HA- and NA-specific virus-neutralizing<SUP> </SUP>IgA and IgG antibodies in protection against secondary infection<SUP> </SUP>with a homologous influenza A virus is well established. However,<SUP> </SUP>the immune mechanisms responsible for Het-I are incompletely<SUP> </SUP>defined. In the present study, the responses of different immune<SUP> </SUP>mechanisms to primary and secondary infection were monitored<SUP> </SUP>to gain insight into the immunity underlying the suboptimal<SUP> </SUP>protection against infection with a heterologous or, in our<SUP> </SUP>case, heterosubtypic virus. This insight might suggest approaches<SUP> </SUP>to enhance the induction by vaccination of responses leading<SUP> </SUP>to broad protection.<SUP> </SUP>
HI antibodies after infection with H1N1 did not cross-react<SUP> </SUP>with the H3N2 virus in the HI assay and, therefore, pre-challenge<SUP> </SUP>HI antibodies do not seem to be responsible for the observed<SUP> </SUP>Het-I. However, after challenge with H3N2, an increase in HI<SUP> </SUP>titre was also observed against H1N1, which suggests that cross-reactive<SUP> </SUP>HI antibodies are produced. HA-specific virus-neutralizing antibodies<SUP> </SUP>that cross-react between subtypes have been reported (Okuno<SUP> </SUP>et al., 1994




Interestingly, the antibody response to the conserved extracellular<SUP> </SUP>domain of the M2 protein (M2e) was clearly boosted by the heterosubtypic<SUP> </SUP>infection, as the serum anti-M2e antibody titre increased 25-fold<SUP> </SUP>between day 4 and day 8 post-challenge. In comparison, the antibody<SUP> </SUP>titre to the also conserved NP only increased 2-fold. Therapeutic<SUP> </SUP>treatment with an M2e-specific MAb was shown to reduce pulmonary<SUP> </SUP>virus titres 100- to 1000-fold in mice (Mozdzanowska et al.,<SUP> </SUP>1999






The percentage of CD8<SUP>+</SUP> CTLs in the lungs of pigs increased from<SUP> </SUP>approximately 10% before primary infection to more than 30%<SUP> </SUP>after primary infection and more than 50% after secondary infection.<SUP> </SUP>The secondary challenge only increased the percentage of CTLs<SUP> </SUP>in the lungs of heterosubtypically immune pigs, indicating that<SUP> </SUP>CTLs play a role in Het-I. The CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cell arm of the cellular<SUP> </SUP>response has been proposed to be the major mediator of Het-I,<SUP> </SUP>and many studies have indeed proved that CTLs contribute to<SUP> </SUP>protection in mice (Epstein et al., 2000








An infiltration of NK cells into the lungs was observed between<SUP> </SUP>day 0 and day 15 after primary infection. These cells probably<SUP> </SUP>kill influenza virus-infected epithelial cells in the early<SUP> </SUP>stage of primary infection in a non-specific manner but, at<SUP> </SUP>a later stage of the primary infection, as well as in the early<SUP> </SUP>stage of secondary infection, they are possibly targeted to<SUP> </SUP>infected host cells by antibodies. Anti-M2e MAbs and anti-NA<SUP> </SUP>MAbs that do not have virus-neutralizing activity were suggested<SUP> </SUP>to target effectors of the innate immune system to infected<SUP> </SUP>cells in mice (Mozdzanowska et al., 1999









The lymphoproliferation response increased after challenge in<SUP> </SUP>the Het-I group, but not in the Hom-I group. The pigs in the<SUP> </SUP>Hom-I group are probably so well protected that the challenge<SUP> </SUP>virus is cleared from the lungs without inducing a secondary<SUP> </SUP>lymphoproliferation response. The increase in lymphoproliferation<SUP> </SUP>seems to correspond to the increase in the percentage of CTLs<SUP> </SUP>in the lungs, which was also observed only in the Het-I group.<SUP> </SUP>However, in a previous experiment, in which pigs were primary-infected<SUP> </SUP>and then challenged with the homologous virus 9 weeks later,<SUP> </SUP>a secondary lymphoproliferation response, but no increase in<SUP> </SUP>the percentage of CTLs in the lungs, was observed (unpublished<SUP> </SUP>results). In Hom-I, lymphoproliferation probably mainly supports<SUP> </SUP>an antibody response whereas, in Het-I, it also supports a CTL<SUP> </SUP>response. The lymphoproliferation response was subtype-specific,<SUP> </SUP>as it was higher when PBMC from infected pigs were stimulated<SUP> </SUP>with the homologous virus than with the heterosubtypic virus.<SUP> </SUP>This could be due to the fact that the proliferation depends<SUP> </SUP>partially on T cells and on antigen presentation by B cells<SUP> </SUP>that recognize epitopes of the glycoproteins.<SUP> </SUP>
In conclusion, the present study shows Het-I in pigs. Furthermore,<SUP> </SUP>it provides additional evidence for the notion that cross-reactive<SUP> </SUP>antibodies and CTLs both play a role in Het-I. Het-I provides<SUP> </SUP>a much lower level of protection than Hom-I because antibodies,<SUP> </SUP>antigen-presenting B cells, Th cells and part of the CTLs are<SUP> </SUP>subtype-specific and because the less-protective antibody response<SUP> </SUP>to conserved epitopes is low. In particular, the antibody response<SUP> </SUP>to the conserved M2e after primary infection is suboptimal.<SUP> </SUP>This makes M2e an attractive candidate for vaccine-induced broad-spectrum<SUP> </SUP>immunity. Additional conserved epitopes to which protective<SUP> </SUP>immunity can be induced may be discovered in the future. Although<SUP> </SUP>Het-I does not provide the complete protection against infection<SUP> </SUP>seen with Hom-I, it caused a pronounced reduction in virus replication<SUP> </SUP>and fever. Prevention of all virus replication after challenge<SUP> </SUP>may not be a realistic goal in cross-protection, but a significant<SUP> </SUP>reduction in virus replication and clinical disease may well<SUP> </SUP>be. For humans, such a level of protection could be vital in<SUP> </SUP>the event that the vaccine strain does not match the circulating<SUP> </SUP>strain or in a future pandemic. For pigs, the level of protection<SUP> </SUP>could be sufficient to prevent virus spread if the vaccine strain<SUP> </SUP>does not match the circulating strain.<SUP> </SUP>
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The authors would like to thank Cheri Middel for his assistance<SUP> </SUP>in performing the ELISAs and Professor A. D. M. E. Osterhaus,<SUP> </SUP>Professor J. T. van Oirschot and Dr P. J. G. M. Steverink for<SUP> </SUP>their critical review of the manuscript.<SUP> </SUP>
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<!-- null -->Bikour, M. H., Frost, E. H., Deslandes, S., Talbot, B., Weber, J. M. & Elazhary, Y. (1995). Recent H3N2 swine influenza virus with haemagglutinin and nucleoprotein genes similar to 1975 human strains. Journal of General Virology 76, 697-703.<!-- HIGHWIRE ID="82:11:2697:1" -->[Abstract]<!-- /HIGHWIRE -->
<!-- null -->Black, R. A., Rota, P. A., Gorodkova, N., Klenk, H.-D. & Kendal, A. P. (1993). Antibody response to the M2 protein of influenza A virus expressed in insect cells. Journal of General Virology 74, 143-146.<!-- HIGHWIRE ID="82:11:2697:2" -->[Abstract]<!-- /HIGHWIRE -->
<!-- null -->Brown, I. H., Ludwig, S., Olsen, C. W., Hannoun, C., Scholtissek, C., Hinshaw, V. S., Harris, P. A., McCauley, J. W., Strong, I. & Alexander, D. J. (1997). Antigenic and genetic analyses of H1N1 influenza A viruses from European pigs. Journal of General Virology 78, 553-562.<!-- HIGHWIRE ID="82:11:2697:3" -->[Abstract]<!-- /HIGHWIRE -->
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