Sendai virus-specific T-cell clones: induction of cytolytic T cells by an anti-idiotypic antibody directed against a helper T-cell clone.

We used a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody that is directed against a Sendai virus-specific helper T-cell clone to induce an anti-viral immune response in vivo. Splenocytes primed with the anti-idiotypic antibody mediated an antigen-specific cytolytic response. Preimmunization of mice with the anti-idiotypic antibody resulted in protection against a subsequent lethal infection with Sendai virus.