T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against trinitrophenyl-modified cells: effect of glutaraldehyde treatment on the immunogenicity and antigenicity of trinitrophenyl-modified cells.

Cells treated with low concentrations of glutaraldehyde for a 10-sec interval were unable to incorporate 3H-leucine into TCA precipitable protein, respond to H-2 allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) assays, or display capping of cell surface immunoglobulin (Ig) with a fluoresceinated anti-Ig reagent. Such cells could stimulate and specifically block H-2 allogeneic CML activity but could not stimulate an H-2 allogeneic MLR response. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) treated spleen cells were used to sensitize syngeneic splenocytes into displaying a cytotoxic effect against trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified target cells. Treatment of the stimulator cells with glutaraldehyde immediately after modification with TNBS did not impair their immunogenic activity. Similar treatment of TNP-modified concanavalin A-stimulated lymphoblasts that were used as inhibitors in a CML cold target competition assay allowed such cells to retain their antigenicity. Cells treated with glutaraldehyde before TNP-modification, however, were not antigenic in the cold target competition assay. These data are compatible with TNBS acting on plasma membrane molecules directly to cause cells to be antigenic and immunogenic in the CML assay rather than affecting internal cellular components.     

Immunogeneic analysis of H-2 mutations. II. Cellular immunity to the H-2DA mutation.

The H-2da haplotype was derived from the H-2d haplotype by a mutation localized to the D end of the H-2 complex. Coculture of H-2d and H-2da spleen cells gives rise to bidirectional MLR. However, the H-2d anti-H-2da response is much stronger than that of H-2da anti-H-2d. Both haplotypes give rise to reciprocal CML. B10.D2(R103) strain spleen cells, which differ only at the D end of the H-2 complex from the H-2d haplotype, kill H-2da target cells in CML when sensitized to H-2d stimulators and vice versa. Therefore, both the mutant and strain of origin share a D end CML specificity. H-2d and H-2da reject skin grafts in both directions, although some H-2d grafts show prolonged acceptance on H-2da recipients. These data are consistent with a mutation in the D end of the H-2d haplotype resulting in gain-loss of an antigen(s) that gives rise to reciprocal MLR, CML, and skin graft rejection. Further, the mutant can be distinguished from the strain of origin on the basis of the strength of immune response in MLR.     

Detection of shared H-2Kk and H-2Dk antigens that function as self determinants for cell-mediated lympholysis to trinitrophenyl-self

Spleen cells from C3H/He mice immunized in vivo to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-self were sensitized in vitro to TNP-self. These spleen cells displayed strong lysis on TNP-modified H-2D end-matched (Kd-Dk) targets as well as enhanced cytotoxicity against H-2 matched (Kk-Dk) or H-2K end-matched (Kk-Dd) target cells. Cold target-blocking studies showed that the lysis of TNP-Kd-Dk targets could be blocked by the addition of TNP-modified Kk-Dk, Kk-Dd Kk-Db, or Kd-Dk, but not by TNP-modified Kd-Dd, Kb-Db and Kq-Kq spleen cells. These results demonstrate that the lysis of TNP-Kd-Dk targets is not due to cross-reactive clones against TNP-Kd-Dd, Kb-Db or Kq-Dq antigens. Inhibition of the TNP-Kd-Dk target lysis by TNP-Kk-matched (Kk-Dd or Kk-Db) as well as TNP-Dk-matched (Kd-Dk) blockers also reveals that this target is lysed by clones directed against shared antigens between Kk-TNP and Dk-TNP, indicating that no cytotoxic response restricted for Dk-TNP only could be detected even after in vivo priming.     

Defining cytolytic T lymphocyte recognition of chemically modified self. I. Response to trinitrophenyl-H-2Kk

We used purified class I antigen incorporated into liposomes to examine the response of secondary cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) to chemically modified self. By generating the secondary response in the presence of T cell helper factor, the level of CTL response was limited by CTL recognition of added antigen rather than by helper cell generation of lymphokines. We found a strong secondary response against chemically modified self when spleen cells from trinitrophenyl (TNP)-primed C3H/HeJ mice were stimulated with a) TNP-modified liposomes containing H-2Kk, b) liposomes containing H-2Kk purified from TNP-modified RDM-4 (H-2k) cells, or c) liposomes containing the limited trypsin proteolysis product of H-2Kk that had been directly modified with TNP. In contrast, we were not able to generate a significant CTL response with unmodified H-2Kk incorporated into vesicles along with TNP-modified membrane components lacking H-2Kk. These results suggest that TNP-modified H-2Kk is a major antigenic site recognized by CTL from C3H/HeJ mice after priming against TNP-modified self.     

Primary and secondary autologous mixed-lymphocyte interactions in mice occur via antigens encoded by genes in the I region of the major histocompatibility complex

The antigens stimulating the autologous mixed-lymphocyte reactions (AMLR) were studied in experiments employing specific blocking antisera and through panels of secondary stimulating cells differing in the MHC. Antisera directed to the entire I region, I-A, I-EC, or A?Eα were all effective in blocking the primary AMLR. A principal role for those determinants encoded in I-A was indicated by secondary stimulation experiments. In secondary cultures, I-EC encoded determinants generated weaker responses in the absence of I-A homology.     

Antigen-presenting cells that induce anti-H-2K T-cell responses: Differences in stimulator-cell requirements for induction of proliferation and cell-mediated lympholysis

Splenic T or B cells, which have been depleted of adherent cells by passage through Sephadex G10 columns, fail to stimulate allogeneic lymph-node cells (LN) in primary mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) both when the stimulating antigens are H-2 plus Ia and H-2K only. This failure cannot be ascribed to lack of viability of G10-passed cells, since by dye exclusion they are 95 percent viable and can be induced to proliferate in vitro by exposure to LPS or allogeneic cells. Stimulation of MLR activity could be restored by addition of small numbers of plastic-adherent spleen cells (SAC) which had to be syngeneic with the G10-passed stimulator cells. Further, SAC alone without G10-passed cells induced MLR activity which was, on a cell-for-cell basis, 40 times more effective than that induced by unfractionated spleen cells. If the SAC were first depleted of Ia⁺ cells, no stimulation was obtained. This result was observed both in cases where responder and stimulator strains differed across the entireH-2-gene complex and in a mutant-wild type combination (CBA and H-2^km1) in which the difference between the two strains has been mapped to theK region only. These results indicate that Ia⁺ SAC contain a subset(s) of cells which are responsible for stimulation in MLR, regardless of whether the alloantigenic differences involve either Ia or H-2K. In contrast to the inability of G10-passed splenic cells to stimulate MLR activity, these cells were able to stimulate CTL from cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTL.P) in combinations where the antigenic differences between responder and stimulator were at the entireH-2 complex or atH-2K only. However, SAC were more potent stimulators of cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) activity on a cell-for-cell basis. Thus, either CTL.P can be stimulated by nonadherent spleen cells or they are specifically sensitive to a small subpopulation of contaminating cells that cannot readily be removed by G10 passage.     

Relationship between trinitrophenyl and H-2 antigens on trinitrophenyl-modified spleen cells. II. Correlation between derivatization of H-2 antigens with trinitrophenyl and the ability of trinitrophenyl-modified cells to react functionally to the CML assay.

Spleen cells were modified with varying concentrations of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and then assayed for both their ability to stimulate syngeneic spleen cells into displaying a cytotoxic effect against TNP-modified target cells and for the extent of TNP derivatization of H-2 antigens. It was found that there was a direct correlation between the extent of derivatization of H-2 antigens and the ability of such derivatized cells to act as stimulator cells in the TNP-CML assay. Thus, these data lend support to the altered self or interaction antigen hypothesis as the explanation for the H-2 gene restriction of syngeneic CML. Target cells were also modified with TNBS at varying concentrations to determine the optimal concentration required to permit lysis in the CML assay. The results of these experiments indicate that similar concentration ranges of TNBS are required to create antigenic determinants on the target cells as well as immunogenic determinants on the stimulator cells that can be recognized by cytotoxic T cells.     

Synergistic interactions between lymph node and thymus cells in response to antigenic differences limited to selected regions of the H-2 complex.

Thymus and lymph nodes from the A.TL recombinant line were utilized as sources of responding cells in MLR (mixed lymphocyte response) assays to MHC-determined (major histocompatibility complex) antigenic differences. Cells from both sources were stimulated to proliferate by antigenic determinants controlled by the H-2K region alone, H-2D region and the H-2I-H-2S regions. Nylon-fiber-adherent splenic cells from each of the stimulating cell strains stimulated T-cell-dependent responses. Synergistic interactions between A.TL thymus and lymph node cells were initiated by antigenic products limited to single H-2 regions. Antigenic differences determined within the H-2I region were not required for synergistic responses to H-2K-controlled products or for the generation of cytotoxic killer cells to H-2D-associated antigens. The H-2I-region-associated products also were very effective in stimulating T-cell synergy. These data demonstrate that the two responsive T-cell subpopulations can both be stimulated by alloantigens coded within a single known H-2 region.     

Cell types required for H-2-restricted cytotoxic responses generated by trinitrobenzene sulfonate-modified syngeneic cells or trinitrophenyl-conjugated proteins.

Murine spleen cells were fractionated over nylon wool or Sephadex G-10 columns, and the cell types involved in the generation of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific, H-2 restricted (TNP-self) cytotoxic effector cells were studied from cultures stimulated with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS)-modified syngeneic cells, TNP-conjugated soluble proteins such as bovine gamma-globulin (TNP-BGG), or bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA). Unfractionated or nylon nonadherent responding cells generated such effectors, irrespective of whether the cultures were stimulated with TNBS-modified cells or TNP-conjugated proteins. TNP-modified T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and phagocyte-enriched spleen cells were all capable of stimulating TNP-self effectors. TNP-self effectors. TNP-self as well as allogeneic cytotoxic responses were dependent on the presence of a radioresistant non-T cell that was removed by Sephadex G-10 fractionation and was replaced by irradiated, Thy 1.2-negative, glass adherent spleen cells, enriched in phagocytic cells. Results obtained by using glass adherent cells that were allogeneic or semi-syngeneic to the responding cells indicated that H-2 homology was not required for efficient glass adherent cell function, and that the H-2 restriction of TNP-self effectors is not determined by these glass adherent cells.     

Cellular requirements for the generation of primary cell-mediated lympholysis responses to Qa-1 antigens

Mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) between NZB responder spleen cells and Qa-1-disparate stimulator spleen cells were employed to determine the cellular requirements for the generation of primary anti-Qa-1 cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) responses. Although primary anti-Qa-1 cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) were generated during H-2-homologous stimulation, anti-Qa-1 CTL were not detectable from MLC in which the stimulators were H-2 allogeneic. Anti-Qa-1 CTL also were not generated from MLC in which the stimulators were semiallogeneic. Thus, H-2 identity between responder and stimulator cells was not sufficient to permit the generation of primary anti-Qa-1 CTL when H-2 disparity was also present. The capacity for H-2 disparity to prevent anti-Qa-1 CML responses was further demonstrated in MLC containing both H-2-allogeneic and H-2-homologous stimulator cells. Therefore, in subsequent studies we employed NZB responders and H-2-homologous, Qa-1-disparate stimulators. When various subpopulations of stimulator cells were studied for their ability to induce anti-Qa-1 CTL, nylon wool-adherent cells were found to be potent stimulators, but nylon wool-nonadherent cells were not. Furthermore, depletion of macrophages from the stimulator population abrogated the generation of anti-Qa-1 CML responses, despite the presence of responder macrophages in the culture. In contrast, all fractionated subpopulations stimulated anti-H-2 CML responses. When macrophage-enriched cells were used as stimulators, anti-Qa-1 CTL could be generated with approximately 80-fold fewer stimulator cells than when unfractionated splenocytes were used as stimulators. These findings indicated that stimulator macrophages were essential for the generation of primary anti-Qa-1 CTL. Direct evidence for macrophage expression of Qa-1-antigens was obtained by using a Qa-1b-specific CTL clone. These studies provide i) the first evidence for Qa-1 expression on macrophages, ii) a basis for comparison of the cellular interactions necessary to generate CTL against H-2K/D-encoded vs Qa-1-encoded class 1 antigens, and iii) a model for investigating the mechanisms responsible for the immunodominance of H-2K/D alloantigens.     

H-2K-restricted granuloma formation by Ly-2+ T cells in antibacterial protection to facultative intracellular bacteria

Cellular, genetic, and antigenic requirements for granuloma formation in murine listeriosis were determined by using adoptive transfer of granuloma formation. Granuloma formation was restricted by a class I MHC antigen (H-2K) and critically depended on a Ly-2+ (Ly-1+2+) T cell. Expression of granuloma formation required living bacteria; heat-killed bacteria was not sufficient. H-2K-restricted transfer of granuloma formation was associated with a high degree of protection. Markedly less protection, presumably due to macrophage activation by T cells, was found under conditions of H-2 I-A homology. It is concluded that two T cell populations are involved in protection against L. monocytogenes: protection associated with granuloma formation depends on Ly-2+ (Ly-1+2+) T cells, is restricted by H-2K, and requires products of living bacteria to be expressed, whereas protection based on macrophage activation depends on H-2 I-A-restricted T helper cells.     

Properties of H-2L locus products in allogeneic and H-2 restricted, trinitrophenyl-specific cytotoxic responses.

The role of the recently defined L antigen (a second D region product) in allogeneic and TNP-specific syngeneic primary CML responses has been investigated. The lysis by anti-L specific cytotoxic effector cells was not inhibited when the target cells were pretreated with an antiserum directed against K and D, whereas an antiserum against L completely abrogated this response. Therefore, H-2L products are recognized on the target cell independently of H-2K and H-2D locus products. Both A.SW cells as well as B10 cells were found to respond to Ld alloantigens, in addition to Dd alloantigens when stimulated by cells differing only in the D region. The results of cold target blocking and antiserum inhibition experiments failed to detect cytotoxic cells with specificity of L antigens in association with TNP, under conditions in which TNP-specific effectors to K and D antigens were demonstrable. These findings suggest that there is a more limited involvement of H-2L locus products than the H-2K or H-2D locus products in the induction and specificity of these responses.     

"Physiological interaction" does not explain the H-2 requirement for recognition of virus-infected cells by cytotoxic T cells.

B10.A (H-2Kk, H-2Dd) ectromelia-immune T cells from secondary responses in vitro were protent killers of both infected L929 (H-2Kk H-2Dk) and infected P-815 (H-2Kd, H-2Db) target cells. Specific competition with unlabelled targets showed that two separate T cell subsets were responsible for lysis of infected L929 and infected P-815 cells. One hypothesis to account for this (a form of "physiological interaction") is that T cells which kill one target e.g. infected L929) display only one out of two possible self-complementary recognition structures, in this example the H-2Kk alloantigen, not H-2Dd, whereas T cells that lyse infected P-815 targets display only H-2Dd, not H-2Kk. This hypothesis was tested and seems untenable because of the following results: A.TH (H-2Ks, H-2Dd) ectromelia-immune, secondary cytotoxic T cells which killed infected SJL/J (H-2Ks, H-2Ds) targets were themselves inactivated by pre-incubation with SJL/J cytotoxic T cells generated in one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) against BALB/c (H-2Kd, H-2Dd). A.TL (H-2Ks, H-2Dd) ectromelia-immune secondary cytotoxic T cells which killed infected BALB/c targets were themselves inactivated by BALB/c cytotoxic T cells generated in MLR against SJL/J. Thus, virus-immune T cells which lyse infected targets by virtue of shared H-2K are also displaying H-2D alloantigen, and vice versa.     

Influence of killer assisting factor (KAF) on generation of cytotoxic T cells.

Generation of killer T cells in murine mixed lymphocyte culture required that prekiller cells be presented with both a killer assisting factor(s) (KAF) and certain cellular alloantigens (presumably H-2K or H-2D) early in the sensitization process. Late addition of either KAF or alloantigen-bearing cells to pre-killer cell cultures decreased the levels of cytotoxicity seen by the fifth day of incubation. In both cases this decrease reflected a delay in the development of cytotoxicity. Periodic removal of KAF from mixed lymphocyte cultures showed that maximum cytotoxicity was obtained when KAF was present along with the alloantigen for the full 5-day sensitization period. However, a significant cytotoxicity could be detected when contact with KAF, in the presence of alloantigen, was allowed for as few as 48 hr of culture. These observations suggest that both alloantigen and KAF must be experienced together to initiate cell mediated lympholysis (CML) development and that full CML development requires the continuous presence of KAF thereafter.     

The extent of self-MHC restriction of cytotoxic T cells in nude mice varies from mouse to mouse

There are conflicting results as to whether the response of athymic nude mice to TNP-modified self determinants is or is not H-2 restricted. We cultured spleen cells from 29 individual RNC (H-2k) nude mice with TNP-modified self determinants and tested the cultures for their ability to lyse TNP-modified self (RNC-TNP) and TNP-modified allogeneic (BALB/c-TNP) target cells. Each mouse was stimulated by two different protocols: either by the addition of TNP-modified irradiated nu/+ spleen cells or by TNP modification of the nude responder cells without addition of other cells. All mice could lyse RNC-TNP targets and about one-half could also lyse BALB/c-TNP targets, i.e., there was a 50:50 division between restricted and unrestricted responses. The magnitude of the response against RNC-TNP and whether the response was restricted were both independent of the method of stimulation. We conclude that H-2 restriction in these mice is imposed by an as yet unidentified environmental influence that can vary from one nude mouse to the next. The influence appears to act through negative selection because the modified self response is, if anything, higher in mice showing an unrestricted response.     

Characterization of the target cell antigen in I region-mediated lympholysis.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CL) can be produced by culturing I region disparate spleen cells as previously reported. More recently, it was shown that these CL can lyse other target cells which shared only the I-A subregion with the stimulator cells, i.e., lysis of these target cells is not H-2K/D restricted. Since I region-mediated lympholysis represents the only strong exception ruling out the obligatory role for H-2K/D products in mediating cytolysis of target cells, it is important to characterize further the target antigen recognized by CL in this system.A.TH anti-A.TL or (A.TL × B10.A) Fl anti-B10.HTT CL were generated in a 4-day primary culture system. The CL, shown to be Thy-1⁺, are able to kill targets that share only the central region of H-2 with the stimulator cells. These I region-specific CL can also lyse target cells that express a cross-reacting Ia antigen with the stimulator cells. Incompatibilities at IA/IB and IE/IC gave stronger cell-mediated lympholysis than incompatibilities at IA/IB only. Experiments involving the use of cold target competition, inhibition by specific anti-Ia serum, and target cells containing different proportions of Ia⁺ cells, strongly suggest that the target antigens recognized by the CL are in fact Ia antigens.     

Soluble suppressor of T cell proliferation in primary in vitro response to murine minor histocompatibility antigens

Normal mouse lymphocytes are not capable of mounting a primary cytotoxic T cell response to Mls encoded, non H-2, allodeterminants, although a strong lymphoproliferative response is observed in primary MLR between Mls incompatible cells. In this study it is reported that in the supernatant of primary cultures between AKR macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (H-2 identical, incompatible for Mls and other minor antigens) a suppressor of T cell proliferation in MLR is detected. By contrast, a suppressor is not detected in supernatants from primary cultures between BALB/C macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (H-2 incompatible, Mls identical), B10.BR macrophages and CBA/H macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (syngeneic) suggesting that the production of the suppressor factor occurs only when an Mls incompatibility exists. The suppressive activity of the Mls incompatible culture supernatant upon MLR between incompatible macrophages and lymphocytes is neither antigen specific nor Mls or H-2 restricted, nor is it due to an irreversible toxic effect on T lymphocytes or macrophages. The inhibition of T cell proliferation could be explained by inhibition of IL 2 production, by blocking its union to T cells or by a combination of both effects. Our findings could help explain previous observations that lymphocytes from mice preimmunized with Mls incompatible cells have a depressed proliferative response as well as depressed cytotoxicity against alloantigens.     

Suppression of anti-hapten antibody responses by hapten-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes: role of I-A-associated antigen on target B lymphocytes

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) determinants suppress the effector phase of a secondary anti-TNP antibody responses of murine syngeneic spleen cells in vitro. The cells mediating this suppression are hapten-specific, H-2-restricted, and possess properties typical of CTL. Moreover, the targets of the suppression appear to be antigen-primed B lymphocytes that are recognized by CTL via soluble antigen bound noncovalently to their Ig receptors. The effect of the CTL can be blocked by the addition of monoclonal antibodies directed against I-A molecules but not I-E or H-EK-encoded molecules on the target B cells, even in strain combinations in which the CTL-B cell interaction is restricted only by the H-2K and I regions of the MHC. This result suggests that B lymphocyte-bound antigen tends to associate preferentially with I-A rather than H-2K/D-encoded determinants, and that the suppressive effect of the CTL population is attributable to the minor subset that recognizes hapten-modified Ia antigens. These findings are also discussed in terms of the possible immunoregulatory function of Ia-restricted CTL.     

Immune complex effects on murine macrophages. I. Immune complexes suppress interferon-gamma induction of Ia expression

We have studied the effects of immune complexes on the expression of macrophage surface proteins in vitro. Increased expression of the H-2 molecules I-A, I-E, and K on the macrophage membrane was induced by in vitro culture with crude lymphokine or interferon-gamma. Expression of all three of the molecules was additionally increased by stimulating the cultures with heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes. Addition of soluble immune complexes to the cultures did not have any effect on macrophage expression of these proteins. However, significant inhibition of lymphokine or interferon-gamma induction of I-A, I-E, and H-2K was observed when macrophages were cultured on plates to which immune complexes had been bound. This inhibition was dose dependent, required an immunoglobulin (Ig) molecule with an intact Fc portion, did not require the presence of T cells, and occurred in the presence of indomethacin. Complexes containing IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgE, but not IgM or IgA, antibodies mediated the inhibitory effect.     

F1 hybrid anti-parental H-2k cell-mediated lympholysis. I. Stimulator and target determinants controlled by the H-2K region.

H-2k-heterozygous F1 hybrid mouse spleen cells cultured with irradiated H-2k-homozygous stimulator cells generated specific anti-parent cytolytic effectors. The parental antigenic determinants recognized by responder cells during induction (afferent arm) and by effector cells during cytolysis (efferent arm) were coded for, or regulated by, the H-2K-Hh3 region of the MHC, according to recombinant analysis. There were no detectable influences by other linked or unlinked genes on the phenotypic expression of parental antigens; however, the anti-parent responsiveness was modulated by background genes of responder cells. These experiments establish that the K end of H-2 controls determinants of F1 anti-parental H-2k CML, like the D end controls those of F1 anti-parental H-2b CML, thus confirming the basic symmetry of the H-2 complex. The relationship of this primary in vitro cell-mediated response with natural in vivo resistance to parental and allogeneic bone marrow grafts is discussed.