Highly Efficient Expression of Proteins Encoded by Recombinant Vaccinia Virus in Lymphocytes

Using a recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) that expresses E. coli β galactosidase (β‐Gal) to infect lymphocytes, we show that enzymometrically or immunologically detectable β‐Gal expression is less pronounced among T cells than among B cells, VV infection caused growth inhibition of B cells, but barely affected T‐cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, the production of infectious viral particles was less pronounced in T lymphocytes. Kinetic studies revealed that after an initial dose‐dependent growth inhibition, T cells continued to proliferate without the doubling time being affected by VV infection. Nonetheless. The T cells do express proteins encoded by recombinant VV. such β‐Gal. or secrete soluble proteins such as interleukin‐4, though at a lower efficiency at the per cell level than B lymphocytes. In conclusion, the physiology of T cells appears lo be less perturbed by VV than that of B ceils, although the virus is capable of directing expression of recombinant genes to T lymphocytes.