Cytotoxic and proliferative allospecific T-cell clones contain perforin and mediate anti-CD3-induced cytotoxicity

Some in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can kill target cells bearing specific antigen, whereas others can only proliferate in response to that antigen. The mechanism of target lysis by clones that exhibit antigen-specific cytotoxicity is thought to involve the exocytosis of lytic granules, which contain the pore-forming protein perforin. Here, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-8- T-cell clones, positive for CD3 and the alpha/beta T-cell receptor, were tested for their ability to lyse the mouse-anti-human CD3 hybridoma OKT3; this hybridoma has been shown to trigger the cytolytic mechanism in cytotoxic T cells regardless of their clonal specificity. We found that all in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can efficiently lyse the OKT3 targets whether or not they can kill alloantigen-bearing lymphoblastoid B-cell line targets. Furthermore, all tested clones contained perforin. The OKT3 hybridoma was not lysed by perforin-negative, CD3+ leukemic T-cell lines or by CD3- NK clones. Thus, the presence of perforin in T-cell clones correlated with their ability to lyse OKT3 targets, but not with their ability to lyse alloantigen-bearing targets. These results demonstrate that T-cell clones that are nonlytic when activated by specific antigen nevertheless contain a complete lytic mechanism and also support the proposed central role in perforin in that mechanism.     

Activation of primary T lymphocytes results in lysosome development and polarized granule exocytosis in CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, whereas expression of lytic molecules confers cytotoxicity to CD8+ T cells

Lytic granule exocytosis is the major cytotoxic mechanism used by CD8(+) cytotoxic lymphocytes. CD8(+) T cells acquire this effector function in the process characterized by lysosomal biogenesis, induction of expression of cytolytic molecules, and their selective sorting into the lysosomal vesicles. However, temporal relation of these differentiation stages during T cell activation has not been defined precisely. Also, although CD4(+) T cells typically do not express lytic molecules as a consequence of activation, and therefore, do not acquire granule exocytosis-mediated lytic function, it is not clear whether CD4(+) T cells are able to degranulate. By using in vitro TCR stimulation of primary mouse lymphocytes, we found that polyclonally activated CD4(+) T cells degranulate upon TCR ligation and polarize enlarged lysosomal granules in response to target cell recognition, despite the lack of granule exocytosis-mediated cytotoxicity. Upon TCR stimulation, resting CD8(+) T cells rapidly express lytic molecules and acquire potent lytic function early in activation. Maximal cytolytic potential, however, depends on enlargement of lysosomal granules during the subsequent activation stages. Thus, polyclonal TCR stimulation of resting T cells results in development of lysosomal granules and their release upon TCR engagement in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, but only CD8(+) T cells acquire lytic function as a result of induction of expression of lytic molecules.     

Antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell and antigen-specific proliferating T cell clones can be induced to cytolytic activity by monoclonal antibodies against T3

T3 is a human differentiation antigen expressed exclusively on mature T cells. In this study it is shown that anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies, in addition to their capacity to induce T cells to proliferate, are able to induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones to mediate antigen nonspecific cytotoxic activity. It is furthermore shown that anti-T3 reagents are able to trigger lytic activity in T cell clones characterized as noncytotoxic antigen-specific proliferating T cells. The data presented indicate that perturbation of T3 can trigger the lytic machinery in cytolytic as well as noncytolytic T cell clones.     

Involvement of T11 molecules in antigen receptor-mediated T lymphocyte functions: effect of anti-T11 monoclonal antibody on functional capabilities of alloreactive T cell clones

As shown by previous studies, the sheep erythrocyte-binding T11 molecule is involved in T cell activation, as well as in mechanisms of specific allogeneic target cell lysis. In this study, we utilized two anti-T11 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that inhibited the specific cytolytic activity of mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC)-activated T cells to analyze, at the clonal level, the involvement of T11 molecules in (a) antigen-specific vs. nonspecific mechanisms of target cell lysis, and (b) antigen-driven T cell proliferation and interleukin 2 (IL 2) production vs. IL 2-induced cell proliferation. In contrast to anti-T3 or anti-T8 mAb, antibodies to T11 molecules inhibited the cytolytic activity of MLC-derived allospecific clones in a uniform manner. In addition, anti-T11 antibodies inhibited the specific activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones resistant to anti-T3 antibodies, even after antibody-induced modulation of T3 molecules (while anti-T3 mAb had no effect). Similarly, anti-T11 antibodies inhibited the alloantigen-induced proliferation and IL 2 release of alloreactive clones independent of their T4+ or T8+ phenotype. The inhibitory activity of anti-T11 antibodies appears to be confined to antigen-specific T cell functions since neither natural killer-like activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones nor the IL 2-induced clonal proliferation was affected. Thus, our results indicate that T11 molecules are functionally involved in antigen recognition by T cell regardless of their function and T4/T8 phenotype. The possible mechanisms of anti-T11 antibody-mediated inhibition are discussed.     

Serial killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes: T cell receptor triggers degranulation,re-filling of the lytic granules and secretion of lytic proteins via a non-granule pathway

CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones begin to synthesize the lytic proteins granzyme A, granzyme B and perforin after stimulation with allogeneic target cells. The lytic proteins are stored in the secretory granules which are released after cross-linking of the T cell receptor (TcR) upon target cell recognition. During lytic granule biogenesis granzyme A protein synthesis can be detected between 2 and 10 days after allogeneic stimulation of the CTL. Although granzyme A is stored in the lytic granules over this period, the majority of granzyme A synthesized is secreted directly from the CTL. TcR triggering of degranulation also results in new synthesis of the lytic proteins, which can be inhibited by cycloheximide (CHX). Some of the newly synthesized lytic proteins can be stored in the cell and refill the granules. But up to one third of granzymes A and B can be secreted directly from the CTL via the constitutive secretory pathway as shown by granzyme A enzymatic activity and immunoblots of secreted granzyme B, where one third of the protein fails to acquire the granule targeting signal. Perforin is also secreted via the constitutive pathway, both from the natural killer cell line, YT, and from CTL clones after TcR cross-linking. Constitutive secretion of the lytic proteins can be blocked by both CHX and brefeldin A (BFA). While BFA does not affect the directional killing of recognized targets, it abrogates bystander killing, indicating that bystander killing arises from newly synthesized lytic proteins delivered via a non-granule route. These results demonstrate that the perforin/granzyme-mediated lytic pathway can be maintained while CTL kill multiple targets. We show that CTL not only re-fill their granules during killing, but also secrete lytic proteins via a non-granule-mediated pathway.     

The actin cytoskeleton and cytotoxic T lymphocytes: evidence for multiple roles that could affect granule exocytosis-dependent target cell killing

One important mechanism cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) use to kill virus-infected, transplanted or tumour targets is exocytosis of granules that contain cytotoxic agents such as perforin and granzymes. Granule exocytosis-dependent target cell killing is a complex process, involving initial T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent signalling that includes Ca²⁺ influx and activation of protein kinase C, shape changes that serve to bind the CTL to the target and, finally, exocytosis of lytic granules at the site of contact with the target cell. Although there is reason to propose that multiple steps in the lytic process could involve the actin cytoskeleton of CTLs, few studies have examined this issue, and those that have do not allow the specific step(s) involved to be determined. We have used the potent membrane-permeant actin cytoskeleton-modifying drugs jasplakinolide and latrunculin A to investigate the actin dependence of defined processes that are expected to be important for granule exocytosis-dependent killing. Our results, obtained using TALL-104 human leukaemic CTLs as a model system, are consistent with the idea that a functional actin cytoskeleton is required for TCR/CD3-dependent signalling, for activation of store-dependent Ca²⁺ influx and for CTL shape changes. When cells were stimulated with solid-phase anti-CD3 antibodies, treatment with either jasplakinolide or latrunculin A abolished granule exocytosis. However, when cells were stimulated in a manner that bypasses TCR/CD3-dependent signalling, granule exocytosis was not significantly altered, suggesting that the actin cytoskeleton does not function as a barrier to exocytosis.     

Evidence for a regulatory role of the T8 (CD8) antigen in antigen-specific and anti-T3-(CD3)-induced lytic activity of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones

The functional role of the T8 antigen of human T cells was studied by inhibition with anti-T8 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of the cytotoxic action of T8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones (CTL). All clones were allospecific and directed against HLA-B7. The ability of seven different anti-T8 mAb to inhibit the cytotoxicity of these alloreactive CTL clones corresponded with their avidity for a particular target cell. The lysis of cross-reactive antigen-bearing target cells was more readily blocked by anti-T8 mAb than lysis of the specific B7 target cell against which a clone was raised. The seven anti-T8 mAb showed a spectrum of CTL blocking ability ranging from strong blocking with all five CTL clones tested to weak inhibition of only two out of five clones. mAb inhibition of CTL reactivity and cold target inhibition studies with one of the five CTL clones indicate a post-binding role of the T8 molecule. Functional epitope mapping based on CTL blocking with the anti-T8 mAb resulted in the definition of one nonfunctional epitope on the T8 molecule which is only expressed on mature T lymphocytes and a cluster of closely related functional epitopes expressed on both thymocytes and mature T lymphocytes. Not only allospecific cytotoxicity, but also nonspecific cytotoxicity induced anti-T3 mAb in these allospecific clones was inhibited by anti-T8 mAb in the absence of HLA class I expression on the target cell (Daudi cell line). The hierarchy of blocking with anti-T8 mAb and the classification of functional epitopes on T8 in anti-T3-induced nonspecific cytotoxicity were similar to those obtained in blocking of allospecific reactivity of the CTL clones. This analogy points to an identical function of the T8 antigen in both allospecific and anti-T3-induced nonspecific cytotoxicity. If HLA class I molecules are the counter structures of the T8 antigen, then these results argue against an adhesion-like function of the T8 structure. The combined results show that the T8 molecule has a regulatory role in CTL activation. It is postulated that the T8 antigen might serve as a receptor that transduces a negative feedback signal for T cell activation which prevents T cell triggering by nonspecific interaction.     

Role of calcium influx in cytotoxic T lymphocyte lytic granule exocytosis during target cell killing.

One mechanism cytotoxic T lymphocytes use to kill targets is exocytosis of cytotoxic agents from lytic granules, a process that requires Ca(2+) influx. We investigated the role of Ca(2+) influx in granule exocytosis using TALL-104 human leukemic cytotoxic T cells triggered via a bispecific antibody containing an anti-CD3 F(ab') to kill Raji B lymphoma cells. Using a novel fluorescence method, we detected target-directed release of approximately 15% of lytic granules during killing. Consistent with previous work, we observed sustained CTL Ca(2+) gradients during killing, but gradients reflect the behavior of Fura-2 in granules. Rapid imaging experiments suggest that Ca(2+) channels are not polarized during killing, indicating that Ca(2+) influx does not direct granule reorientation. Furthermore, we find that Ca(2+) acts via a high-affinity interaction to promote granule exocytosis.     

The cytolytic T lymphocyte and its mode of action

While the binding step of cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) target cell interaction resulting in conjugate formation is a well-characterized event, there seems to be more than one mechanism whereby lymphocytes kill the target. In recent years, infliction of complement (C)-like "holes" (I.D. 10-20 nm) on the target cell membrane, believed to be produced by the Ca2+-dependent lytic protein(s) perforin/cytolysin of secretory lytic granule origin has been proposed to be the mechanism of lymphocytotoxicity. More recent evidence, however, suggests that Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of lytic granules (where detectable) is not involved in lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis. Furthermore, neither formation of C-like "holes" in targets exposed to CTL, nor higher-than-background levels of lytic granules, perforin or BLT-esterases, have been detected in highly potent, peritoneal exudate CTL (PEL) derived directly from the animal or in cytocidal PEL-hybridomas. Hence exocytosis of perforin and formation of the above pores may apply to certain effector cells, particularly those grown in vitro in IL-2, but not to in vivo primed CTL such as PEL. On the other hand, work from this laboratory with Ca2+ probes has shown that lysis induced by CTL such as PEL-not involving lytic granules, perforin or formation of the above "holes"-is preceded by a marked prelytic elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ in the target. CTL-induced target cell membrane perturbation--a direct result of receptor-mediated effector-to-target interaction or through a membrane-bound or secreted effector component(s)--may be responsible for triggering the prelytic influx of Ca2+ from external sources, or its mobilization from internal stores in the target. We propose that CTL-induced, persistent elevation of cytosolic Ca2+, above a critical level, rather than formation of 10-20 nm pores, is responsible for the catastrophic prelytic events observed in the target, such as bleb formation, metabolic exhaustion and DNA degradation, ultimately leading to lysis.     

Identification of a 140-kDa activation antigen as a target structure for a series of human cloned natural killer cell lines

In the present study, we have developed a monoclonal antibody termed anti-TNK_TAR, able to block cytotoxicity mediated by a human natural killer (NK) clone termed JT9. Analysis of the functional effects of anti-TNK_TAR indicated that alteration of the cytotoxic reactions resulted from the binding of the antibody to the membrane of target cells. In addition, it was shown that inhibition of cytotoxicity induced by anti-TNK_TAR could be abolished by lectin approximation. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that TNK_TAR antigen is a heterodimeric structure which resolves as a single band at 140 kDa under nonreducing conditions and as two bands at approximately 97 kDa and 40 kDa under reducing conditions in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. This heterodimer is present on lymphocytes and monocytes in human peripheral blood and perhaps more importantly, the membrane density of TNK_TAR antigen increases very early and strongly following lymphocyte activation. In addition, it was shown that TNK_TAR is expressed on each single cultured cell line which has been tested, although the density of the antigen varies strongly from one cell line to another. Even though the 140-kDa molecule was found to be widely distributed on activated cells, anti-TNK_TAR had no blocking effects on cytotoxic reactions mediated by a series of either NK or cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones unrelated to JT9. In contrast, anti-TNK_TAR blocked, in an identical fashion, cytotoxicity of JT9 and two additional clones, JT10 and JT11, against a series of 8 sensitive targets. JT9, JT10 and JT11 human cloned NK cell lines have been derived from peripheral blood of one individual donor drawn on month 0 (JT9), 12 (JT10) and 18 (JT11). Most importantly, these three clones initially selected for their capacity to kill K562 cells have been found to express the same 90-kDa clonotypic antigen receptor structure (termed NKTa) and display identical specificity when tested against a panel of randomly selected target cell lines. We have previously demonstrated that a unique subset of NK active mature T lymphocytes interact with target cells via 90-kDa clonotypic determinants in a major histocompatibility complex-independent fashion. Taken together, the present data strongly supports the view that a surface antigen of 140 kDa, linked to cell activation, serves as a specific recognition structure at the target cell level for these NK-active T lymphocytes.     

Activation of human T lymphocytes. III. Triggering of bystander cytotoxicity in cytotoxic T cell clones by antibodies against the T3 antigen or by a calcium ionophore

The role of T cell differentiation antigens in antigen-specific and nonspecific cytotoxicity by human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones was investigated. In contrast to other reports, several monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the T3 antigen only marginally blocked antigen-specific cytotoxicity at high concentrations but induced cytotoxicity against third party cells at concentrations from 10 to 0.001 micrograms/ml. Susceptibility to anti-T3-induced lysis was variable but was found with all target cells. Incubation of CTL with anti-T3 mAb even led to self-destruction of the CTL. The effect was independent of the presence of Fc receptors on the target cell and could be obtained with F(ab')2 fragments of the antibody as well. Only activated but not resting T cells could be induced to lyse by anti-T3. Furthermore, this type of bystander killing of target cells could also be induced by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Antibodies against the T8 differentiation antigen inhibited antigen-specific, oxidation-induced and anti-T3-induced cytotoxicity by T8+ CTL clones, whereas triggering by the ionophore A23187 was not inhibited. These results show that undirected killing can be triggered in CTL by activating a transducing molecule directly without involving the antigen receptor. Since this triggering of the lethal hit can still be inhibited by mAb against the T8 molecule, the T8 molecule probably has a regulatory role in a late phase of CTL triggering.     

Genetic defects affecting lymphocyte cytotoxicity

Cytolytic lymphocytes kill virus-infected cells as well as tumor cells by the exocytosis of the content of specialized secretory lysosomes at the immunological synapse (IS). Perforin and granzymes are the molecular effectors that induce rapid target cell death. Cytolytic T cells are activated by specific antigen recognition whereas the cytolytic activity of natural killer cells is initiated by specific activating receptors or combinations thereof and is inhibited by self MHC class I recognition. The cytolytic process has received considerable attention and can now be described as a multi-step process including cell activation, polarization of specialized lysosomes -- lytic granules -- toward the IS, tethering of the lytic granules to the plasma membrane, priming for fusion with the plasma membrane, effective fusion and release of granule content in the IS cleft, and death of the target. This is a highly flexible system that could enable a cytolytic cell to subsequently kill target cells bound at different sites around the effector cell. Cytolytic cells exert a second effector function consisting of the secretion of cytokines, notably interferon gamma. The latter secretory process functions independently from the exocytic pathway of the lytic granules.     

Prevention of antigen-induced microtubule organizing center reorientation in cytotoxic T cells by modulation of protein kinase C activity

Lysis of target cells (TC) by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is achieved by directional exocytosis of cytolytic molecules-perforin and granzymes. They are stored within lytic granules which can be readily released following antigenic stimulation. Secretion of lytic molecules appears to be controlled by protein kinase C (PKC) activity, since specific modulators of PKC activity abolish the lysis of TC. We have examined the effect of PKC modulation on some of the earliest events in the perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity. De novo synthesis of perforin mRNA, required for the refilling of granules and sustained cytotoxicity, seems to be unaltered in the presence of PKC modulators. Immunofluorescent studies of CTL-TC conjugates revealed that PKC modulation impairs reorientation of the microtubule organizing center toward the contact point with the TC, which accounts for the specific direction of lytic granules exocytosis. Thus, it appears that PKC regulates exocytosis of lytic granules by governing microtubule reorganization, one of the initial steps in perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity.      

TCR down-regulation boosts T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and protection against poxvirus infections

Cytotoxic T (Tc) cells play a key role in the defense against virus infections. Tc cells recognize infected cells via the T-cell receptor (TCR) and subsequently kill the target cells by one or more cytotoxic mechanisms. Induction of the cytotoxic mechanisms is finely tuned by the activation signals from the TCR. To determine whether TCR down-regulation affects the cytotoxicity of Tc cells, we studied TCR down-regulation-deficient CD3γLLAA mice. We found that Tc cells from CD3γLLAA mice have reduced cytotoxicity due to a specific deficiency in exocytosis of lytic granules. To determine whether this defect was reflected in an increased susceptibility to virus infections, we studied the course of ectromelia virus (ECTV) infection. We found that the susceptibility to ECTV infection was significantly increased in CD3γLLAA mice with a mortality rate almost as high as in granzyme B knock-out mice. Finally, we found that TCR signaling in CD3γLLAA Tc cells caused highly increased tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the c-Cbl ubiquitin ligase, and that the impaired exocytosis of lytic granules could be rescued by the knockdown of c-Cbl. Thus, our work demonstrates that TCR down-regulation critically increases Tc cell cytotoxicity and protection against poxvirus infection.     

Cloned human T-cell lines with allospecific or natural killer-like cytotoxicity

Cloned human T-cell lines were produced by limiting dilution of lymphocytes alloactivated in mixed leukocyte cultures, followed by expansion of clonal progeny with interleukin 2. Selected clones were analyzed for cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CTX) against a variety of targets susceptible or resistant to lytic attack by natural killer (NK) cells. Clones with classical alloantigen-restricted lytic capacity for normal lymphoid targets were found to be distinct from those mediating natural killer-like CTX against NK-susceptible cell line targets. This was established by direct CTX assays and by cold target cross-competition experiments. Moreover, clones with NK-like activity displayed heterogeneous patterns of lysis on different target cell lines in direct CTX, suggesting a clonal distribution of receptors for NK-like target antigens amongst these cultured human NK-active T-cell clones.     

The influence of calcium on morphology and histamine content of isolated intact rat mast cell granules

Histamine is released by “sequential exocytosis” in mast cells. The exocytosis involves fusion of the plasma membrane with the perigranular membrane and further fusions of adjacent perigranular membranes. To study a possible direct effect of Ca²⁺ on granule membrane fusions, mast cell granule suspensions were prepared from sonicated rat mast cells. With the sonication method used, more than 60% of the granules obtained were found to be homogeneous, electron dense and surrounded by a perigranular membrane, when observed in the electron microscope. These granules correspond to normal, histamine-containing granules found in untreated mast cells and are therefore named “intact” granules. The other granules were swollen, less electron dense and without a perigranular membrane. These “changed” granules are formed during the histamine release process. Aliquots of the granule suspension were incubated in 0.34 M sucrose buffered with 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.0, containing different concentrations of CaCl₂, MgCl₂ (10 mM, 1 mM, 100 μM, 10 μM) or NaCl (10 mM). Only with the highest concentration (10 mM) of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ was it possible to visualize an apposition of the perigranular membranes of “intact”, normal granules. No elimination of the individual membrane structures could be observed at the place of membrane contact. Thus, we found no signs of membrane fusions. The histamine content was lower in the suspensions incubated with lower concentrations of these ions or with 10 mM NaCl. Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in high concentrations seemed to stabilize the perigranular membranes instead of initiating histamine release. Therefore, changes in the Ca²⁺-ion concentration per se do not explain the membrane fusions seen in mast cells during “sequential exocytosis”.     

Calcium influx and signaling in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte lytic granule exocytosis

Summary:  Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill targets by releasing cytotoxic agents from lytic granules. Killing is a multi-step process. The CTL adheres to a target, allowing its T-cell receptors to recognize antigen. This triggers a signal transduction cascade that leads to the polarization of the microtubule cytoskeleton and granules towards the target, followed by exocytosis that occurs specifically at the site of contact. As with cytokine production by helper T cells (Th cells), target cell killing is absolutely dependent on Ca²⁺ influx, which is involved in regulating both reorientation and release. Current evidence suggests that Ca²⁺ influx in CTLs, as in Th cells, occurs via depletion-activated channels. The molecules that couple increases in Ca²⁺ to reorientation are unknown. The Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, which plays a critical role in cytokine production by Th cells, is also involved in lytic granule exocytosis, although the relevant substrates remain to be identified and calcineurin activation is only one Ca²⁺ -dependent step involved. There are thus striking similarities and important differences between Ca²⁺ signals in Th cells and CTLs, illustrating how cells can use similar signal transduction pathways to generate different functional outcomes.     

Cytolytic effector function is present in resting peripheral T lymphocytes.

Antigen-specific cytotoxic killer lymphocytes (CTLs) represent one of the major effector functions of the immune system. It is well established that, as a consequence of TCR recognition of the antigen-bearing target cell, resting T lymphocytes develop into fully active antigen-specific CTLs. In contrast, natural killer (NK) cells are immediately lytic upon contact with an appropriate target cell. The lytic machinery of CTLs and NK cells is thought to include the contents of their cytoplasmic granules, in particular the pore-forming protein perforin. Here we report direct cytolytic activity by resting peripheral CD3+CD8+ T cells as a result of TCR-CD3 binding to the target cell; the murine OKT3 hybridoma (anti-human CD3) was used as a target. The cytotoxicity was more pronounced in the CD8+CD45RO+ population, which contains 'memory' T cells, than in the reciprocal CD8+CD45RA+ subset; CD8+CD4- mature thymocytes were non-cytotoxic. The cytolytic potential of these populations correlated with the presence or absence of perforin. The results demonstrate that the cytolytic machinery of T cells develops post-thymically and can be immediately triggered by TCR-CD3 stimulation.     

Clonal analysis of HLA-DR and -DQ associated determinants: Their contribution to Dw specificities

In order to investigate the distribution of epitopes recognized by T-cell clones directed against HLA class II products, bulk primed cell populations were generated using cells matched for class I determinants but disparate for class II determinants. Cells were cloned by single cell deposition (FACS IV) or limiting dilution (1 cell/3 wells), and assayed for proliferative and cytolytic function with panels of well-characterized cells. All cytolytic clones generated from an anti-DR4/Dw4/DQw3 priming combination or an anti-DR2/Dw2/DQw1 priming combination lysed essentially all targets sharing the same Dw type as the sensitizing cell. In some cases, other targets were also lysed. For instance, some clones were lytic to targets bearing the same DR antigen but another Dw subtype including a few clones lytic to virtually all cells carrying that DR specificity. An occasional target cell expressing a different DR antigen from the sensitizing cell was also lysed by these clones, in some cases to the same extent of lysis seen on the specific target. Monoclonal antibody inhibition studies identified three groups of clones: the DQ directed clones and clones apparently directed at more than one DR product. However, the number of molecules detected for each haplotype remains to be investigated. Our data indicate that determinants detected on both DR and DQ products are associated with the Dw type of the sensitizing cell showing that there is polymorphism recognized by T cells on both DR and DQ that is subtypic to the serologically defined specificities. Thus, it appears that the bulk T-cell response is a composite of individual clones recognizing distinct determinants on these class II molecules. The implications of these findings for studies of HLA restricted recognition are discussed.     

VAMP4- and VAMP7-expressing vesicles are both required for cytotoxic granule exocytosis in NK cells

NK cells eliminate cancer and virus-infected cells through their cytolytic activity. The last step in NK-cell cytotoxicity, resulting in exocytosis of granule content, requires fusion of lytic granules with the plasma membrane. Proteins from the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family mediate membrane fusion events in the cell. Here, we show that NK cells express all members of the R-SNARE subgroup. Two of these R-SNARE proteins, VAMP4 and VAMP7, colocalize with lytic granules during cytotoxic interactions. However, only VAMP7 associates with perforin-containing granules in nonactivated cells, indicating that the two VAMPs have different functions in exocytosis. Using both the tumor NK-cell line YTS and the peripheral NK cells, we show that the disruption of expression of either VAMP4 or VAMP7 inhibits the release of lytic granules and severely impairs NK-cell cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, VAMP7 but not VAMP4 is involved in IFN-γ secretion in NK cells, indicating that VAMP7 is involved in many fusion processes and thus plays a more general function in NK-cell activity than VAMP4.