Abstract

This report describes the possible use of an in vitro culture system for the production of antibodies, as testsystem for the control of diphtheria and tetanus containing vaccines like DPTP (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Polio) and DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio). Both in a human and rabbit testsystem an increase was found in the number of antibody secreting cells, after incubation of PBL's (peripheral blood lymphocytes) of immunized donors with DPTP or DTP vaccine. In both test systems antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus were observed. The antibody production in the human system, however was based on a false positive assay. The antibodies, added to initiate antibody production in the immune cells, were passively transferred from the stimulation phase of the assay day 1 to day 4, to the production phase of the assay day 5 to day 12. The passive transfer was caused by the presence of the insoluble aluminium phosphate used as adjuvant in the vaccines. Both for diphtheria and tetanus antigen specific antibody production was observed in the rabbit culture system. For the tetanus antigen clearly a dose response relationship was present, which was not found for the diphtheria antigen. It was technically not possble to obtain a reproducible harvest of the rabbit PBL's, which limits the possibilities of this system for vaccine control. Conclusively we can say that the control of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine by means of in vitro antibody production is not (yet) possible. Further research is needed to optimize and standardize the in vitro testsystems before they can be used for routine vaccine control.