Evaluation of Cell Mediated Immunity following Rubella Vaccination using Lymphocyte Proliferation

Rubella virus is predominantly a childhood disease that is endemic throughout the world and when rubella outbreaks occur, they are accompanied by birth defects following congenital rubella syndrome. Immunity to rubella virus as a teratogenic agent has an important role to prevent these serious congenital defects. Lymphocyte proliferation assay is a way for investigation of human cell-immunity and its ability against rubella infection. The blood sample was obtained in sodium heparin tube. It was added to Ficoll to separate lymphocytes. The cells were cultured with medium RPMI 1640 with 15% calf serum on a microplate at 37°C in 3-5% CO2. Mitogens including Phytohemagglutinin and rubella hemagglutinin antigen (derived Takahashi strain) were added, separately. Then a fluorescent nucleotide was added. On day 10th-11th the wells stained and observed. Lymphocytes stimulated with the mitogens were observed directly with inverted microscopy. Their aggregation and growth were detected after two days. Also lymph proliferation was shown using labeled nucleotide comprising a new fluorophore, by fluorescent microscopy. Response to full particle of attenuated virus was better than antigens derived from different parts of the virus. Comparison of the data with previous studies on proliferation of specific lymphocytes in response to rubella vaccination confirms our results. Thus cell-immunity to rubella infection was activated timely, in individuals who vaccinated against rubella virus approximately 10 years ago or exposed to it, but the intensity of responses to different antigens varied in each subject.