RELEASE OF SUPEROXIDE ANION FROM POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES STIMULATED BY RUBELLA VIRAL ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEX IN-VITRO

Using a highly sensitive and specific chemiluminescence (CL) method, w e detected the release of superoxide anion (O-2(.-)) from human polymo rphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) stimulated by rubella viral antigen-ant ibody complex (VAAC) adsorbed on latex particles. The amount of supero xide anion produced by PMNLs was proportional to the amount of VAAC. N either rubella virus alone nor antibody alone, adsorbed on latex parti cles, stimulated production of superoxide anion by PMNLs. It is likely that rubella virus requires the presence of antibody in order to be r ecognized by PMNLs, and that the superoxide anion is somehow involved in the disease process of rubella.