Cross-reactive lysis of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-derivatized H-2 incompatible target cells by cytolytic T lymphocytes generated against syngeneic TNP spleen cells

Normal spleen cells, when cultured with irradiated trinitrophenyl (TNP)-derivatized syngeneic spleen cells, develop cytotoxic effectors that lyse most effectiviely a TNP-derivatized target that is H-2 compatible with the effector. However, these effectors also lyse to a lesser extent TNP tumor and TNP spleen targets that are H-2 incompatible. This cross-reactive lysis correlates with the degree of cytolysis seen on the TNP-derivatized syngeneic target; it appears to be medicated by Thy 1.2-bearing cells and is inhibited by antisera to the K and/or D loci of the target cell and not by antisera to non-K or non-D surface antigens. Nonradiolabeled TNP-derivatized lymphoid cells syngeneic to either the stimulator or the target are able to competitively inhibit cross-reactive lysis, while TNP chicken red blood cells are unable to specifically inhibit lysis. These data on cross-reactive lysis of TNP-conjugated targets are most consistent with the altered-self hypothesis.     

The effect of allogeneic presensitization on H-Y graft survival and in vitro cell-mediated responses to H-y antigen

C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 female mice were grafted with skin from male or female donors incompatible for H-2 and/or non-H-2 antigens. Syngeneic male grafts applied after the rejection of primary allografts or syngeneic male grafts were rejected in accelerated (second set) fashion, whereas male grafts applied after primary female grafts were not. In addition, C57BL/10 female spleen cells, primed in vivo with an allogeneic (BALB/c, CBA, or B10.BR) male graft and challenged in vitro in mixed lymphocyte culture with syngeneic (C57BL/10) male cells, produced cytotoxic cells specific for syngeneic male target cells. We conclude that at least some component of H-Y is detected by female responder cells on allogeneic male cells, and that the second set cell mediated response to H-Y is not necessarily restricted by the H-2 haplotype of the primary sensitizing strain. Moreover, (CBA X B10) F1 females, primed in vivo with male cells of one parental haplotype (B10 or CBA) and challenged in vitro with male cells of the other parental haplotype (CBA or B10), fail to lyse male target cells of either parental haplotype. It therefore seems unlikely that a helper determinant shared between B10 and CBA is sufficient to explain the ability of CBA male cells to prime H-2-restricted T-cell cytotoxic responses by B10 females.     

In vitro cell-mediated immune responses to the male specific(H-Y) antigen in mice

C57BL/10 female mice were primed to the male specific antigen H-Y, either by grafting with syngeneic male tail skin or by i.p. injection of syngeneic male spleen cells. Primed female spleen cells, either unseparated or filtered through nylon wool to remove most of the B lymphocytes, were then cultured for 5 days in vitro with irradiated syngeneic male spleen cells and assayed against 51Cr-labeled target cells. Both unseparated and nylon wool filtered female cells displayed significant cytotoxic activity restricted to male target cells. Pretreatment of sensitized female cells with antitheta serum and complement just before assay abolished cytotoxic responses. We were unable to demonstrate cell-mediated cytotoxic responses into two nonresponding strains, CBA and B10.A, which fail to reject male isografts. The cytotoxic activity of C57BL/10 female cells was restricted to male target cells histocompatible with C57BL/10 over at least a portion of the major (H-2) histocompatibility complex. We conclude that secondary in vitro cytotoxic responses against the H-Y antigen are mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and that the H-Y target cell antigen may be specified by the H-2 complex.     

Specificity of cytotoxic effector cells directed against trinitrobenzene sulfonate-modified syngeneic cells. Failure to recognize cell surface- bound trinitrophenyl dextran

Mouse splenic lymphocytes and lymphoid tumor cells were modified with the trinitrophenyl (TNP) group either by treatment with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) (which covalently modifies cell surface proteins) or with TNP stearoyl dextran (TSD) (which binds to the cell by noncovalent forces). These cell preparations were compared for their ability to: (a) sensitive syngeneic splenic lymphocytes leading to the generation of cytotoxic effector cells; (b) serve as lysable targets in a 4-h(51)Cr- release assay for effector cells generated in (a); and (c) act as blocking cells in the lysis of TNBS-medified targets lysed by TNP self effector cells generated in (a). In none of these three experimental systems did TSD-medified syngeneic spleen or H-2-matched tumor cells act either as a sensitizing immunogen or as a target antigen, despite the demonstration that quantitatively equivalent mounts of TNP were exposed on the cell surface in the TNBS- and TSD-modified cells. In contrast, TNBS-modified spleen cells sensitized syngeneic lymphocytes to generate effectors against TNBS-modified syageneic targets. Furthermore, TNBS- modified, H-2-matched cells served as specific lysable targets and as inhibiting cells for such effectors. These results indicate that the manner in which TNP is associated with the cell surface is important in the immunogenicity and antigenicity of hapten-modified syngeneic stimulating cells in generating H-2-associated cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) reactions. These findings raise the possibility that a covalent or at least a stable linkage with cell surface proteins (possibly H-2- controlled products) is important for immunological function. Furthermore, these observations do not favor the dual receptor model for H-2-restricted syngeneic CML if it is assumed in such a model that one receptor is specific for the TNP moiety and the second for unmodified self major histocompatibility products.     

Genetic control of cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses. I. Ir gene control of the specificity of cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses to trinitrophenyl-modified syngeneic cells

The ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) induced in vitro to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified syngeneic cells to cross-reactively lyse a TNP allogeneic spleen target varies among inbred mouse strains. The cross-reactive CTL phenotype was found to be histocompatibility 2 (H-2) linked and to be dominant in F1 hybrid mice. All strains investigated demonstrated cross-reactivity except for some strains bearing portions of the H-2k haplotype. The gene(s) controlling this response maps to the K and/or I-A region of the H-2 complex. We have termed the immune response (Ir) gene responsible for controlling the specificity of CTL induced to TNP-modified syngeneic cells Ir-X-TNP.     

Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by primary in vitro stimulation with peptides

Antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells can be generated by primary in vitro stimulation of spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice with appropriate peptide fragments. This response can be elicited without prior in vivo immunization. Chicken OVA fragmented with either cyanogen bromide (CN OVA) or trypsin (T OVA) was used as a source of mixed peptides. A synthetic peptide, NP365-380, representing the sequence 365-380 from influenza virus A/PR/8 nucleoprotein, was also used, since this contains the main determinants recognized by CTL generated from H-2b mice infected with A/PR/8 virus. The primary in vitro cytotoxic T cell response was peptide specific, since targets were lysed only in the presence of appropriate peptide antigens. Native OVA could not elicit primary effectors in vitro nor could it sensitize targets for lysis by OVA digest-specific CTL. A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 111-122 within the OVA sequence could sensitize targets for lysis by effectors induced against T OVA. Effectors generated by in vitro stimulation were CD8+, CD4-, and H-2Db-restricted for NP365-380 and T OVA recognition. CN OVA-specific effectors were also CD8+, CD4-, but surprisingly, were able to lyse a range of H-2-different targets in an antigen-specific manner. These effectors failed to lyse a tumor line that does not express class I MHC molecules. This broad MHC restriction pattern was also apparent at the clonal level. In all cases, the antipeptide CTL generated by primary in vitro stimulation were inefficient in lysing target cells expressing endogenous forms of antigens, such as influenza virus-infected cells or cells transfected with the OVA cDNA. However, cytotoxic T cell lines generated in vitro against the NP365-380 peptide did contain a minor population of virus-reactive cells that could be selectively expanded by stimulation with A/PR/8-infected spleen cells. These results are discussed in terms of class I-restricted T cell stimulation in the absence of antigen processing by high surface densities of peptide/MHC complexes.     

T-cell-mediated cytotoxic immune responses to F9 teratocarcinoma cells: cytolytic effector T cells lyse H-2-negative F9 cells and syngeneic spermatogonia

Murine thymus derived (T) lymphocytes primed in vivo to mouse 129 (H-2bc) derived H-2-negative F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and rechallenged in vitro with X-irradiated F9 stimulator cells differentiated into anti-F9 cell immune cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Using CBA mouse derived splenic responder T cells, F9 stimulator cells triggered a primary cytotoxic anti-F9 response. The CTL generated lysed the F9 antigen-positive target cells F9. PCC3 and PCC4, but not the F9 antigen-negative mouse 129 derived PYS tumor cells, nor LPS induced H-2bc blast cells. Mouse 129 anti-F9 cell antisera but not H-2k anti-H-2bc antisera blocked the lytic interaction with F9 target cells. Similarily unlabeled F9 cells but not H-2bc blast cells inhibited the anti-F9 cell cytotoxicity H-2k anti-F9 cell immune CTL were found to be cytotoxic for syngeneic spermatogonia, known to express the F9 antigen. The results suggest not only that CTL can recognize and lyse H-2-negative target cells, but also that CTL precursors can be sensitized against H-2-negative stimulator cells. From the data available it may be inferred that anti-F9 Cell immune CTL recognize the F9 antigen, known to be linked with the T/t locus. Since anti-F9 cell immune CTL lyse syngeneic spermatogonia, the system may be useful to analyze in vitro the induction and effector phase of a T-cell-mediated cytotoxic autoimmune orchitis.     

H-2 restriction of virus-specific cytotoxicity across the H-2 barrier. Separate effector T-cell specificities are associated with self-H-2 and with the tolerated allogeneic H-2 in chimeras

During infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis or vaccinia virus, F1 irradiation chimeras reconstituted with bone marrow cells from or both parents generate cytotoxic T cells which can lyse targets across the H-2 barrier. However, activity of chimera T cells is H-2 restricted as shown by cold target competition experiments and selective restimulation of a secondary response in vitro; T cells of H-2k specificity which lyse tolerated infected H-2d target cells do not lyse infected H-2k or unrelated target cells and vice versa. Therefore, H-2 restriction of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells probably does not reflect need for like-like self-interactions for lysis to occur. The specificity of virus immune T cells is thus determined by the H-2K and H-2D specificities present in the infected animal and which are probably recognized unidirectionally by T cells. The results are compatible with the idea the T cells are specific for "altered alloantigen", i.e., a complex of cell surface marker and viral antigen. Alternatively, explained with a dual recognition model, T cells may possess two independently, clonally expressed receptors, a self-recognizer which is expressed for one of the syngeneic or tolerated allogeneic K or D "self" markers, and an immunologically specific receptor for viral antigen.     

Thymus dictates major histocompatibility complex (MHC) specificity and immune response gene phenotype of class II MHC-restricted T cells but not of class I MHC-restricted T cells

Athymic H-2b nude mice received grafts from C57BL/6 (Sendai virus and H-Y antigen cytotoxic T lymphocyte [CTL] responder type), bm1 (H-2Kb mutant, Sendai CTL nonresponder type), or bm12 (H-21-A mutant, H-Y CTL nonresponder type) neonates. In observations of the CTL response to H-Y, both recipients and thymus donors were female. All types of thymus engraftment resulted in mature H-2b splenic T lymphocyte surface phenotype in nude hosts. T cell immunocompetence (as measured by major histocompatibility complex [MHC] CTL responses to allogeneic cells) was restored, and induced nonresponsiveness to the MHC determinants of the engrafted thymus in the nude host. The CTL reaction to Sendai virus in both responder type C57BL/6 and nonresponder type bm1 neonatal thymuses allowed maturation of Sendai-specific, H-2Kb-restricted CTL. For the CTL reaction to H-Y, only responder type C57BL/6 thymuses restored the CTL response, whereas this was not achieved with thymuses from nonresponder type bm12 neonatal females. Results of double thymus (B6 and bm12) engraftment excluded the possibility that this latter effect was caused by suppression. In addition, athymic bm1 mice were engrafted with thymuses from either B6 (Sendai CTL responder type) or syngeneic bm1 neonates (Sendai CTL nonresponder type). Again, both types of neonate thymuses restored T cell competence as measured by MHC/CTL responses to allogeneic cells. However, neither responder B6 nor nonresponder bm1 neonate thymus grafts allowed maturation of Sendai-specific CTL. In conclusion, the thymus dictates MHC specificity and immune response gene phenotype of T cells restricted to class II MHC molecules but not of T cells restricted to class I MHC molecules.     

Selective response to H-Y antigen by F1 female mice sensitized to F1 male cells

T-cell mediated cytotoxic responses to H-Y antigen require co-recognition of H-Y and H-2 gene products. F1 mael stimulating cells and target cells express H-Y antigen in association with both parental H-2 haplotypes. However, F1 females primed in vivo and challenged in vitro with F1 male cells lyse male target cells of F1 and only one parental H-2 haplotype. Thus, (CBA X B10)F1 females sensitized to (CBA X B10)F1 male cells lyse (CBA X B10)F1 and CBA but not B10 male target cells, and (BALB/c X B10)F1 females sensitized to (BALB/c X B10)F1 male cells will lyse (BALB/c X B10)F1 and B10 but not BALB/c male target cells. It is suggested that this may represent an effect of immune response or suppressor genes mapping in the major histocompatibility gene complex which regulate responsiveness to H-Y antigen.     

Sendai virus-specific, H-2-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses of nude mice grafted with allogeneic or semi-allogeneic thymus glands

The in vitro secondary cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to Sendai virus-treated stimulator cells by primed spleen cells from thymus gland-grafted nude mice was examined. BALB/c (H-2d) nude mice grafted with allogeneic C57BL/10 (H-2b) thymus glands developed CTL responses directed exclusively to Sendai virus-infected H-2d target cells. (C57BL/6 X BALB/c)F1 nude mice grafted with thymus glands of either parent developed CTL responses preferentially against infected target cells expressing the MHC antigens present in the parental thymus graft, but also had detectable activity for infected target cells of the parental haplotype not expressed in the thymus. These results provide evidence against the concept that self recognition by MHC-restricted CTL is directed exclusively by the MCH type of the thymus.     

H-2-restricted cytotoxic effectors generated in vitro by the addition of trinitrophenyl-conjugated soluble proteins

Murine spleen cells from normal donors were cultured in vitro with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS)-conjugated soluble proteins, i.e., bovine gamma globulin (TNP-BGG) or bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA). Addition of 100 μg of any of these TNP-proteins to the spleen cell cultures led to the generation of cytotoxic T-cell effectors which were H-2-restricted and TNP- specific. The lytic potential of such effectors was comparable to that generated by sensitization with TNBS-modified syngeneic cells, and was restricted to haplotypes shared at the K or K plus I-A, or the D regions of the H-2 complex. Greater effecter cell activity was generated by addition of TNP-BGG against TNBS-modified targets which shared K plus I-A than against modified targets which shared the D region with the responding cells, which suggests that the same immune response genes are involved when the response is generated by the addition of TNP-conjugated soluble proteins or of TNBS- modified cells. H-2-restricted, TNP-specific effecter cells were generated by culturing mouse spleen cells with syngeneic cells which had been preincubated with TNP- BGG or TNP-BSA for 1.5 h. The addition of unconjugated soluble proteins to the cultures did not result in cytotoxic effectors detectable on H-2-matched targets, whether the targets were prepared by modification with TNBS, or by incubation with either the unconjugated or TNP-conjugated proteins. Depletion of phagocytic cells in the tumor preparation by Sephadex G-10 column fractionation before incubation with TNP-BSA had no effect on their lysis by the relevant effector cells. Immunofluorescent staining of tumor target cells with anti-TNP antibodies indicated that TNP could be detected on the tumor cells within 10 rain of incubation with TNP-BSA. The cytotoxic response generated by addition of the TNP-proteins to spleen cell cultures was found to be T-cell dependent at the effector phase, as shown by the sensitivity of the lytic phase to absorbed RAMB and complement. Furthermore, the response did not appear to be attributable to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Three mechanisms were considered which could account for the generation of H-2-restricted, TNP-specific, cytotoxic T-cell effectors by the addition of soluble TNP-proteins. These include covalent linkage of activated TNP groups from the soluble proteins to cell surface components, macrophage processing of the soluble conjugates and presentation to the responding lymphocytes in association with H-2-coded self structures, or hydrophobic interaction of the TNP-proteins to cell surfaces. Results obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate gel patterns indicating that cell-bound TNP was still linked to BSA, and the observation that phagocytic-depleted cells could interact with the soluble TNP-proteins and function as H-2-restricted targets, appear not to favor the first two proposed mechanisms.     

Cell-mediated immunity in lumphocytic choriomeningitis. I. The specificity of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated during murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) has been investigated. CTL were obtained from the spleens of mice injected i.p. with LCM virus. The cytotoxic activity of the CTL was tested in an in vitro 51Cr cytotoxicity assay using infected macrophages or fibroblasts as target cells. At the peak of the cytotoxic T cell response (7-8 days after infection) the cytotoxic action was restricted to syngeneic virus-infected target cells. Using H-2 recombinant mice the target antigen of the CTL generated could be identified as products coded for by either the H-2 K or H-2 D region of the major histocompatibility complex. I region identity between CTL and infected target cells was insufficient for optimal lysis to occur. During the early phase of LCM virus infection there was a transient phase during which non-infected H-2 histocompatible targets were lysed as efficiently as virus-infected target cells. This finding may suggest, that during the early phase of LCM disease self-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes are temporarily present in LCM virus-infected mice.     

H-2 compatibility requirement for virus-specific T-cell-mediated cytolysis. The H-2K structure involved is coded by a single cistron defined by H-2Kb mutant mice

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis or vaccinia virus-immune spleen cells of H-2 mutant mice carrying a point mutation in the K region (B6 H-2ba, B6 H-2bf) cannot lyse infected wild-type H-2Kb targets and vice versa. Yet, cytotoxic T cells specific for infected H-2Kba or H-2Kbf targets are generated during virus infections as shown by cold target competition experiments. The critical structure for the apparent restriction by the K or D regions of the H-2 gene complex of cytolytic interactions between T cells and virus-infected target cells are therefore each coded, at least as shown for the K region, by a single cistron. This finding is most readily accommodated within the altered self concept (postulating that T cells are specific for virus-modified self structures) but cannot exclude the possibility of a physiological interaction mechanism being responsible for the apparent H-2 restriction of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.     

Virus and trinitrophenol hapten-specific T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity against H-2 incompatible target cells

Immune spleen cells from LCM virus-infected (CBA X C57BL/6)F1 radiation chimeras entirely repopulated with CBA-T6 lymphocytes were cytotoxic for allogeneic, LCM virus infected C57BL/6 mouse-derived target cells. Normal C57BL/6 targets were not lysed. CBA-T6 lymphocytes derived from (CBA X C57BL/6) radiation chimeras sensitized in vitro against TNP- conjugated C57BL/6 spleen cells lysed TNP-conjugated C57BL/6 targets. However normal C57BL/6 mouse-derived targets were not destroyed. The magnitude of virus-specific (or TNP-specific) cytotoxic responses against H-2 incompatible targets was lower compared to that against H-2 compatible targets. These data are considered to support and to extend the altered self concept, but are not consistent with the dual recognition concept.     

The major histocompatibility complex determines susceptibility to cytotoxic T cells directed against minor histocompatibility antigens

Cytotoxic cells were generated by immunizing one strain of mouse with cells from an allogeneic strain which carries the same H-2 region. The effector cells assayed in a 4 h 51Cr release assay were shown to be T cells and indistinguishable, except in specificity, from cytotoxic T cells directed at H-2 alloantigens. Although the genetic differences between responder and stimulator cells responsible for the immunization did not code in H-2, the H-2 complex did restrict susceptibility of target cells. For example, BALB.B cytotoxic cells (H-2b) immunized against and capable of lysing C57BL/6 cells (H-2b) would not lyse B6.C/H-2d target cells. C57BL/6 and B6.C/H-2d are congenic and differ in the H-2 region. Two hypotheses are considered to explain the H-2 restriction of susceptibility to cytotoxic T cells generated by an H-2 identical alloimmunization. (a) The dual (self) recognition hypothesis states that the cytotoxic cell has two recognition units, one for H-2-coded structures and another clonally restricted receptor for the minor alloantigen. (b) The interaction antigen hypothesis states that all the surface alloantigenic determinants recognized by cytotoxic T cells are the result of interaction between H-2- and non-H-2-coded gene products. Two lines of evidence, one with F1 effector cells and the other a cold target competition experiment, are presented which argue strongly in favor of the interaction antigen hypothesis. The regions of H-2 required to be histocompatible were mapped to the D region and to the left of IC, probably the K region. These results, and recent work on the response to virus-infected and TNP-modified syngeneic cells, suggest that cytotoxic cells are restricted in specificity to preferentially recognizing alterations in structures that are coded in the major histocompatibility complex.     

On the role of the H-2 histocompatibility complex in determining the specificity of cytotoxic effector cells sensitized against syngeneic trinitrophenyl-modified targets

Spleen cells cultured with syngeneic trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified stimulator cells display a cytotoxic effect against syngeneic TNP- modified targets, but not against modified targets from unrelated H-2 haplotypes. Targets that share the K and I region of the H-2 complex with the stimulator (or effector) cell are lysed to the same extent as the specific targets, while targets that share the I region only are not. When only the D region is shared, a weak cytotoxic effect is observed. Therefore, the stimulator (or effector) and target cell must share the K or D but not the I region of the H-2 complex in order for optimal cytotoxicity to occur. Spleen cells sensitized to irradiated TNP-modified H-2-allogeneic cells are cytotoxic to these specific cells. Coculture of F1 hybrid cells with irradiated TNP-modified parental cells result in a cytotoxic effect against only those specific parental cells and not TNP-modified cells from the other parent. The cytotoxic effect of the F1 effector cells in the cell-mediated lympholysis test is blocked by the addition of unlabeled TNP-modified targets that are H-2 syngeneic with the sensitizing parental strain, but not H-2 syngeneic with the other parental strain. These data demonstrate that the specificity of the effector cell in this syngeneic cytotoxicity system is directed against altered self H-2-controlled- gene products, rather than a requirement for sharing of histocompatibility genes between effector and target cell in order for lysis to occur. The role of H-2 antigens in determining the sensitivity of a target cell to T-cell-mediated lysis is discussed.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced against allogeneic I-region determinants react with Ia molecules on trinitrophenyl-conjugated syngeneic target cells

The major histocompatibility complex codes for determinants which are recognized by and serve as targets for cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) (1). Antigens coded for by the K and D loci of the H-2 complex can activate xenogeneic or allogeneic CTL (2,3). In addition, the H-2K or H-2D gene products function as those molecules against which syngeneic CTL responses specific for chemical, viral, and minor H antigens are directed (4-8). It has recently been shown that Ia determinants can also serve as target antigens for distinct but weaker CTL responses (9-13). Those clones which recognize Ia antigens see them independently of K- or D- coded antigens as shown in genetic studies and by antisera-blocking experiments (12,13). We have proposed that the existence of clones of CTL specific for I-region-coded determinants is not fortuitous; rather these clones specifically recognize Ia determinants and may have an immunoregulatory role. These CTL may affect those immune functions which are at least partially dependent on or controlled by I-region-coded molecules. Two predictions can be made and tested concerning the role of Ia determinants in cytolytic systems and the role, if any, of I-region- specific CTL in regulating the immune response: (a) that if as we and others have shown, certain Ia specificities can serve as a third series of major histocompatibility antigens, then Ia antigens should be susceptible to the same types of antigenic modifications as H-2K- or H-2D-coded structures and thus serve as targets for CTL directed against modified-self in selected systems; and (b) that allogeneically induced I-region-specific CTL should demonstrate cross-reactivity with targets bearing modified syngeneic I-region-coded determinants. Data will be present which demonstrates that trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified syngeneic I-region determinants can serve as targets for CTL induced by allogeneic Ia antigens.     

A requirement for antigen-specific helper T cells in the generation of cytotoxic T cells from thymocyte precursors

Thymocytes cultured with irradiated, allogeneic stimulator cells yield no cytotoxic effector cells after a period in culture. If, however, a population of irradiated spleen cells syngeneic to the responder cells are added to these cultures, cytotoxicity is generated. The helper activity present in the irradiated syngeneic spleen cells was found to be mediated by a cell bearing theta antigens. Furthermore, it was found to be antigen specific; helper cells which were tolerant of the stimulator cell antigens were unable to help the thymocyte responder cells, although these tolerant cells did contain helpers specific for a third party antigen. These experiments are consistent with a requirement for associative recognition of linked determinants in the induction of killer precursors which is thus strictly analogous to the induction of B-cell precursors via collaboration with helper T cells. In more extensive studies, it was found that histoincompatible helper cells (H-2b, H-2p, H-2q) were able to help a cytotoxic T cell (H-2k) response to a third party stimulator cell antigen (H-2d); that is, the helper T cells which interact with cytotoxic T-cell precursors are not strain specific. It seems likely that the histocompatible helper cells induce killer precursors in an antigen-specific cooperation event similar or identical to normal syngeneic cooperation.     

Regulation of T-cell-mediated lympholysis by the murine major histocompatibility complex. I. Preferential in vitro responses to trinitrophenyl-modified self K- and D-coded gene products in parental and F1 hybrid mouse strains

Spleen cells from H-2b,k,d C57Bl/10 congenic mice were sensitized in vitro to trinitrobenzenesulfonate (TNBS)-modified autologous spleen cells. Cold target competition studies at the lytic phase demonstrated three distinct patterns of cytotoxic responsiveness: (a) H-2b spleen cells generated approximately equivalent CTL responses against Kb and Db modified self products, (b) H-2d spleen cells generated preferential responses against Dd modified self products, and (c) H-2k spleen cells generated cytotoxic responses which could only be detected against Kk self products in association with TNP. F1 spleen cells were sensitized against autologous TNBS-treated cells. The results showed that, although H-2b parental cells generated approximately equivalent Kb-TNP- and Db-TNP-specific CTL, the presence of the H-2b haplotype did not result in the generation of (a) Dk-TNP CTL response by (H-2b x H-2k) spleen cells, nor (b) a Db CTL response by (H-2b x H-2a) F1 spleen cells. Additionally, (H-2d x H-2k) F1 cells failed to generate detectable Dd-TNP-specific CTL, although H-2d parental cells generated D-regional-specific CTL. The findings demonstrated that these F1 response patterns paralleled those of the H-2k and H-2a parents, i.e. weak or no D-region TNP-specific CTL were induced. Because (H-2d x H-2a) F1 responders stimulated with H-2d TNBS-treated cells did generate good Dd TNP responses, the results illustrated that the presence of responder genes was not sufficient to result in a D-region TNP CML. It is suggested that the absence of Kk alleles on the stimulating population is necessary for the generation of D-region TNP CTL in these F1's. Mechanisms which could account for these response patterns in parental F1 mice are discussed including immunodominance, suppression, T-cell response , and Ir-gene defects.