Characterization of the cellular basis for the inhibition of cytolytic effector cells by murine placenta

Direct suppression of cytolytic effector cell function by cells of the placenta may represent one mechanism that protects the "fetal allograft" from rejection by maternal transplantation immunity. Collagenase disaggregated murine placental cells block target cell lysis by natural killer, lymphokine-activated killer, and (CTL)-type killer cells. This inhibition is reversible and noncompetitive, similar to a previously described inhibitor of CTL found in spleens of mice undergoing an acute graft vs host (GVH) response. Velocity sedimentation separation of placental cells shows that the inhibitory activity is primarily associated with cells that cosediment with nucleated fetal erythrocytes. When these erythrocytes were lysed, an increased number of non-erythrocytic cells could be separated and under this circumstance, inhibitory activity was seen in association with either small white cells or fetal erythrocytes and with large white cells. There may be several cell populations in murine placenta that can inhibit cytolytic effector cells. The possible relevance of direct placental inhibition of cytolytic effectors to protection of the "fetal allograft" is discussed.     

Human allospecific cytolytic T lymphocyte lysis of a murine cell transfected with HLA-A2

A variety of molecules are involved in the interaction of human allospecific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) with target cells. Monoclonal antibodies specific for these molecules inhibit CTL-target conjugate formation and/or lysis. To further study recognition and lysis of targets by human CTL, we used a murine mastocytoma cell line transfected with the histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 gene (P815-A2+) as a target for human HLA-A2-specific CTL. We find that only a subset of human HLA-A2-specific CTL can lyse murine P815-A2+ cells, suggesting that the murine cells may lack one or more accessory molecules needed for CTL recognition and lysis.     

Triggering of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes via CD3-epsilon differs from triggering via alpha/beta T cell receptor. CD3-epsilon-induced cytotoxicity occurs in the absence of protein kinase C and does not result in exocytosis of serine esterases.

The requirement for protein kinase C (PKC) during triggering of murine CD8+ CTL was investigated. To this, CTL were depleted for PKC by pretreatment with PMA. This procedure neither influenced alpha/beta-TCR, CD3-epsilon, CD8, CD2, and lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 expression, nor CTL-target cell conjugate formation. Although cytolytic effector function of PKC-depleted CTL triggered via alpha/beta-TCR structures was completely inhibited, target cell lysis induced via CD3-epsilon remained unaffected. Furthermore this PKC-independent cytolysis pathway was not associated with the release of serine esterases. Analyses at the clonal level revealed that PKC depletion blocked the cytolytic response of up to 95% of alpha/beta-TCR triggered CTL clones. The data suggest the existence of a distinct signaling pathway triggered via CD3-epsilon that is not associated with exocytosis of serine esterases and probably independent of PKC.     

Characterization of antibody-mediated inhibition of natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity: Evidence for blocking of both recognition and lethal hit stages of cytolysis

Rat antisera prepared against murine, periodate-activated alloimmune cytotoxic lymphocytes (termed RAT¹) have previously been shown to effectively block T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) at the “lethal hit” stage of cytolysis (J. C. Hiserodt and B. Bonavida, J. Immunol.126, 256, 1981). Both natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been shown to mediate lysis by the same pathway, namely binding of effector to target cells, programming for lysis, and killer cell-independent target cell lysis. This result suggested that the molecular mechanism of NKCMC and CTLCMC may also be similar. In this context, RAT¹-mediated blocking of CTL was examined for its ability to block NKCMC. The results show that (1) addition of RAT¹ serum or IgG fractions blocked NKCMC in the absence of complement in a 4-hr ⁵¹Cr-release assay, and blocking was directed at the effector cell; (2) at the single-cell level, RAT¹ serum blocked the formation of conjugates between effector and target cells; (3) in a Ca²⁺-pulse experiment, in which the effectors and targets were first allowed to bind in the absence of Ca²⁺ for 1 hr at 37 °C, followed by the addition of Ca²⁺ to initiate the lytic event, RAT¹ was capable of blocking cytotoxicity after conjugate formation at the Ca²⁺-dependent lethal hit stage of cytolysis. The similarity of results in RAT¹ blocking experiments of both the CTL and NK systems suggests a common molecular mechanism of cytolysis.     

CD4 is involved in a post-binding event in the cytolytic reaction mediated by human CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones

CTL lyse their target cells in discrete phases. First, the CTL bind to the target cell in a Mg2+-dependent manner followed by a Ca2+-dependent cytolytic phase. In the present study, we investigated the role of CD4 in the different phases of the cytolytic reaction mediated by human CD4+ class II MHC-specific CTL clones by using a single cell assay. It was found that the anti-CD4+ mAb OKT4A, which blocks cytotoxic reactions by CD4+ CTL clones as measured with a 51Cr release assay, only marginally affects the formation of conjugates. It appeared that OKT4A more strongly blocked the post-binding phase of the cytolytic reaction. In contrast, anti-leukocyte function-associated mAb strongly blocked the formation of conjugates but not the subsequent lytic phase. As was found previously with CD8+ CTL clones, anti-TCR mAb generally did not affect the formation of conjugates. One exception was noted. The activity of a CD4+ CTL clone, HY-640, could not be blocked by OKT4A, but was affected by an anti-TCR mAb. This anti-TCR mAb could partly reduce the formation of conjugates between HY-640 cells and their specific target cells. These results suggest that this clone has a high affinity TCR, which can contribute to the formation of conjugates. Although preincubation of the CTL clones with OKT4A only marginally affects the number of conjugates upon subsequent mixture with target cells, it was observed that incubation at 37 degrees C of preformed conjugates with OKT4A markedly reduced the number of conjugates. This dissociation of preformed conjugates was optimal only after 2 h of incubation. In contrast, an anti-leukocyte function-associated mAb induced a much more rapid dissociation of preformed conjugates.     

Inhibition of the lytic phase of murine T-cell-mediated alloimmune cytotoxicity by a rat antiactivated T-cell antiserum

Antisera produced in rats by immunization with alloimmune murine C57Bl/6 anti-P815 splenic lymphocytes or purified T cells activated in vitro by coculture with phytohemagglutinincoated L-929 cells were found to inhibit the in vitro cytolytic action of in vivo and in vitro alloimmune C57Bl/6 anti-P815 cytotoxic T cells in a 4-hr chromium-51 release assay. The rat anti-murine-activated lymphocyte (anti-MAL) or antiactivated T-cell (anti-ATC) serum inhibited lysis in the absence of exogenously added complement activity and were not directly cytotoxic to CTL. Absorption of anti-MAL with target cells P815, L-929, EL-4, and normal C57Bl/6 lymphocytes removed a limited amount of the CTL-inhibitory activity. In contrast, lectin-activated alloimmune lymphocytes fully absorbed the inhibitory activity indicating these antisera preferentially recognize unique antigenic determinants associated with the activated CTL cell surface. The anti-ATC was found to block alloimmune lysis by CTL from several inbred mouse strains suggesting these antisera recognized antigenic determinants of a common lytic mechanism. A kinetic analysis of the inhibitory activity of the anti-MAL on the CTL reaction scheme revealed this antiserum inhibited lysis at a post-Ca²⁺-dependent step, presumably during the target cell lytic phase. This result suggests the rat antiserum can neutralize the CTL lytic mechanism.     

Cytotoxic lymphokines produced by cloned human cytotoxic T lymphocytes. I. Cytotoxins produced by antigen-specific and natural killer-like CTL are dissimilar to classical lymphotoxins

Several cloned lines of IL 2-dependent human T cells derived from alloantigen, mitogen, or IL 2-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined for their surface marker expression, cytolytic activity in a 51Cr-release assay, and capacity to release cytotoxic lymphokines. Thirty cell lines exhibiting either antigen-specific natural killer cell activity or lectin-dependent killer cell function, which expressed either the CD4 or CD8 surface differentiation markers, were capable of producing cytotoxin(s) in response to the lectins phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. Cytotoxin activity was detected on the murine L929 target cell in a 16-hr cytotoxicity assay. In contrast, several nonlytic T cell tumor lines failed to produce a soluble cytotoxin. Antibodies capable of neutralizing human alpha-lymphotoxin were completely ineffective in inhibiting the cytotoxin(s) produced by any of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) cell lines. Comparative gel filtration and HPLC hydrophobic chromatography of alpha-lymphotoxin and CTL toxin produced by the CTL-830.B2 clone revealed significant differences in their elution profiles. The CTL-produced toxin and alpha-lymphotoxin exhibited similar kinetics of lysis of the L929 target cells, with 50% target cell lysis occurring at 10 hr. These data indicate human CTL produce a cytotoxin(s) antigenically distinct from alpha-lymphotoxin and imply that human cytolytic effector T cells are not the cellular source for the production of human alpha-lymphotoxin. The relationship of alpha-lymphotoxin and CTL toxin production was investigated in unseparated peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with lectins or IL 2 for 1 and 5 days. Anti-alpha-lymphotoxin antibodies were capable of neutralizing only 30 to 50% of the cytotoxic activity in 24-hr supernatants. Cytotoxic activity in supernatants harvested after 120 hr stimulation with PHA or Con A was neutralized 70 to 100%, whereas the toxin(s) released from IL 2-stimulated lymphocytes was only neutralized 30%. These data suggest the observed heterogeneity of cytotoxic lymphokines produced by unseparated mononuclear cells depends in part on the subpopulations of effector cells responding to a given stimulus and the capacity of different subpopulations to produce distinct cytotoxins.     

Species-restricted recognition of transfected HLA-A2 and HLA-B7 by human CTL clones

Human cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) clones and HLA-A2- and HLA-B7-transfected human, monkey, and mouse cell lines were used to investigate the basis for species-restricted antigen recognition. Most allospecific CTL clones obtained after stimulation with the human JY cell line (source of HLA-A2 and HLA-B7 genomic clones) recognized HLA antigens expressed in human and monkey cell lines but did not recognize HLA expressed in murine cells. By initially stimulating the responder cells with HLA-transfected mouse cells, two CTL clones were obtained that recognized HLA expressed in murine cells. Functional inhibition of these CTL clones with anti-class I monoclonal antibodies (MAb) indicated that clones reactive with HLA+ murine cells were of higher avidity than clones that did not recognize HLA+ murine target cells. MAb inhibition of accessory molecule interactions demonstrated that the LFA-1 and T8 surface molecules were involved in CTL-target cell interactions in all three species. In contrast, the LFA-2/CD2 molecule, previously shown to participate in a distinct activation pathway, was involved in the cytolysis of transfected human and monkey target cells, but not in the lysis of HLA+ murine cells. Thus transfection of HLA genes into different recipient species cell lines provides us with the ability to additionally delineate the functional requirements for allospecific CTL recognition and lysis.     

The mechanism of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. IV. K-76 COONa, which inhibits the activity of Factor I and of C5, inhibits early events in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis and in T-lymphocyte activation

K-76 COONa is a derivative of a fungal product which blocks complement (C)-mediated lysis by combining with C5 and preventing its activation to C5b. K-76 COONa can also combine with Factor I and inhibit its ability to hydrolyze C3b to iC3b. The inclusion of K-76 COONa at concentrations similar to those which inhibit C lysis blocked both murine cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated lysis (CML) and the lectin-stimulated proliferative response of murine and human T lymphocytes. A modified cation pulse procedure has been used to determine which phases of CML were most sensitive to the drug. K-76 COONa was inhibitory when it was added to CML prior to the early Mg+2-dependent binding phase, but was much less effective when it was added at any time after the formation of CTL-target conjugates. The principal effect of the drug on the proliferative response was also exerted during an early phase of the response. K-76 COONa did not appreciably decrease the production of T-cell growth factor (TCGF), but it did inhibit the induction of TCGF receptor expression by both functional criteria, i.e., induction of responsiveness to TCGF, and by morphological criteria, i.e., the expression of the Tac antigen. Later events, such as the TCGF-dependent proliferation of cycling T cells, were less sensitive to the drug. Evidence is discussed suggesting that molecules similar to Factor I and to C3 may be involved both in the early events of CML and of T-lymphocyte activation.     

The mitogenic activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB): a monovalent T cell mitogen that stimulates cytolytic T lymphocytes but cannot mediate their lytic interaction

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a monovalent T cell mitogen and inducer of T suppressor cells, was found to be a potent polyclonal activator of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) effective against concanavalin A (Con A)-treated target cells. In addition to polyclonal stimulation of CTL, SEB could reactivate "memory" CTL, alloimmunized 60 to 90 days earlier, into "secondary" CTL detectable as early as 24 hr after onset of stimulation and specific for the original priming target cells. Optimal cytolytic activity was induced at 0.5 to 10 micrograms/ml SEB; optimal priming time was 3 days, correlating well with the proliferative activity and morphologic transformation of small lymphocytes into large T lymphoblasts. Long-term cultures of splenocytes, stimulated by SEB, continued to express high cytolytic activity. It is noteworthy that although SEB and Con A are comparable CTL inducers, SEB, unlike Con A, is an ineffective mediator of nonspecific, CTL/target cell interactions. To the best of our knowledge this is the first example of a CTL inducer unable to mediate CTL-target interaction and lysis. The latter observations suggests that different receptors are involved in CTL activation and in CTL-target interaction resulting in lysis.     

CTL adhesion and antigen recognition are discrete steps in the human CTL-target cell interaction

Th initial step in cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated cytolysis involves target cell adhesion and antigen recognition. To investigate these initial events in the CTL-target interaction, we used HLA-A2- and HLA-B7-specific human CTL clones and HLA-typed B lymphoblastoid target cells. By using two different adhesion assays, we demonstrated antigen nonspecific CTL-target cell adhesion. To more precisely define the contribution of the antigen-specific receptor to CTL-target cell adhesion, we used the HLA-A2, HLA-B7, and mock transfected RD target cells. Consistent with the results when using B lymphoblastoid target cells, the CTL clones demonstrated equivalent adhesions to the RD target cells whether or not they expressed HLA-A2 or HLA-B7. These results suggested that CTL-target cell adhesion occurred independent of the T cell receptor. By using the calcium-sensitive dye Indo-1 and flow cytometry, we assessed CTL-target cell adhesion and CTL activation. Simultaneous measurement of adhesion and intracellular free calcium demonstrated that CTL-target cell adhesion alone did not activate CTL clones. Both CTL-target cell adhesion and the presence of the appropriate HLA target molecule were necessary for the efficient activation of human CTL. MAb inhibition studies indicated that antigen nonspecific adhesion is largely regulated by the LFA-1, CD2 (LFA-2/T11), and LFA-3 cell surface molecules. These antigen nonspecific cell-cell interaction molecules appear to play an important role in facilitating antigen recognition and subsequent target cell lysis.     

Studies on the cytolytic attack mechanism of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL): preparation of antisera against cellfree cytosolic extracts of a CTL clone capable of blocking the lethal hit stage of CTL cytolysis and analysis of the cytolytic structure

Rat antiserum (as well as purified IgG and F(ab')2 fragments) raised against cellfree cytosolic extracts (CFE) of an alloimmune cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone (B6.1.SF.1) is a potent inhibitor of CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. Inhibition by this antiserum (termed alpha CTLL) occurred during the postbinding lethal hit stages of cytolysis, because it did not inhibit target cell binding, nor did it prematurely dissociate CTL-target cell conjugates; inhibition was observed regardless of the H-2 haplotype of the target cell or CTL employed; inhibition was reversible when pretreated, and washed CTL were used as effectors; and in Ca++ pulse experiments alpha CTLL inhibited cytolysis beyond the Ca++-dependent (lethal hit) stage of cytolysis. This antiserum did not inhibit lysis of P815 cells by activated murine macrophages or by human cytotoxic cells, and extensive absorption of the antiserum on viable thymocytes, normal spleen cells, or CTL did not reduce its blocking activity. CFE prepared from several sources of CTL, including in vivo elicited peritoneal exudate lymphocytes (PEL), secondary MLC-generated CTL, alloimmune splenic T cells, and CTL clones, contained material(s) that inhibited the ability of alpha CTLL to block CTL-mediated cytolysis. The inhibitory activity was not detected in CFE from a variety of noncytotoxic cell sources, including thymocytes, normal C57BL/6 spleen cells, EL4 or P815 tumor cells, macrophages, and helper T cell clones. It was also absent in CFE prepared from human CTL cells. Furthermore, although alpha CTLL neutralizing activity was not detectable in CFE prepared from memory CTL, it rapidly appeared in CTL parallel to the development of cytolytic activity during secondary MLC cultures. The inhibitory material in CTL-CFE appeared to be specific for alpha CTLL antibody, as it did not affect the CTL blocking activity of anti-Lyt-2 or anti-target cell antisera. Finally, CTL-CFE did not contain proteases that degraded the alpha CTLL antibody. By the use of a soluble-phase immunoabsorbent assay, the biochemical properties of materials present CFE derived from CTL and reactive with alpha CTLL antibody were examined. CTL cytosolic material(s) reactive with alpha CTLL IgG was unstable to brief heating (50 degrees C) or acidic pH, but not to high ionic strength buffers. The material was inactivated by treatment with pronase but not by DNase, collagenase, or trypsin. Gel filtration chromatography of CTL-CFE revealed multiple peaks of alpha CTLL neutralizing activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Low calcium concentrations support killing by some but not all cytolytic T lymphocytes, and reveal inhibition of a postconjugation step by calcium antagonists

Previous findings support the prediction that drugs which antagonize the action of calcium should inhibit cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated killing without inhibiting the formation of Ag-specific CTL-target cell conjugates. This would contrast with other CTL-inhibiting drugs, nearly all of which inhibit conjugate formation. Testing this prediction, we found that two calcium channel blockers (verapamil and ruthenium red) inhibit killing only when the extracellular calcium concentration is low (100 microM), and, as predicted, do not inhibit conjugate formation. Surprisingly, the esterase inhibitor N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine choloromethylketone also inhibited killing without inhibiting conjugate formation. Unexpectedly, we found that the amount of calcium required by CTL varies by four-fold or more. CTL produced in vivo, or by a single Ag stimulation cycle in vitro, require more than 130 microM calcium for optimal killing, whereas 30 microM suffices for CTL primed in vivo plus boosted in vitro. The rate of admission of calcium into the cytoplasm by physiologic channels did not appear to be the limiting factor for the former type of CTL. Recent findings indicate that allospecific CTL produced in vivo may lack cytoplasmic granules, and may kill by an unidentified mechanism distinct from the exocytosis of granules prominent in CTL lines or clones maintained in vitro. The differences in calcium requirements reported here may reflect differences in mechanisms of killing.     

The role of the T cell receptor, CD8, and LFA-1 in different stages of the cytolytic reaction mediated by alloreactive T lymphocyte clones

The cytotoxic reaction mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) consists of three phases: first, the CTL binds to the target cell; next, the CTL is triggered to lyse the target cell; and in the third phase, the CTL detaches from the target cell which is lysed in the absence of the CTL. Recently, we obtained evidence that human alloreactive CTL clones initially adhere to target cells without the involvement of the interaction between the T cell receptor (Tcr) and its specific target antigen. In the present study, we investigated the effect of monoclonal antibodies specific for the Tcr on the cytotoxic reaction of three CD8+ HLA-A2-specific CTL clones, using a single cell assay in which the binding event can be distinguished from the post-binding (lytic) phase of the cytolytic reaction. It was found that monoclonal antibodies directed at a variable part of the Tcr do not affect the binding phase but strongly block the lytic phase of the cytotoxic reaction. An anti-constant region Tcr antibody and an anti-CD3 reagent had a similar effect on the two phases of the reaction as the anti-variable part Tcr antibodies. In contrast, antibodies specific for LFA-1 strongly blocked the adhesion phase but did not affect the lytic phase. Antibodies specific for CD-8 had intermediate effects. They could block both the adhesion as well as the lytic phase. The effect of anti-CD8 appeared to be dependent on the CTL clone tested. One clone was found to be inhibited in the adhesion phase, but not in the lytic phase, whereas anti-CD8 hardly blocked the adhesion phase of two other CTL clones, but affected the lytic step of those clones. Our data indicate that LFA-1 is a major adhesion molecule in the CTL reaction, whereas the Tcr/CD3 complex is implicated in a phase after the initial formation of conjugates. CD8 is associated with both steps in the cytolytic reaction. In addition to its minor role in the adhesion phase, our data suggest strongly that CD-8 is involved in the triggering phase of the cytolytic reaction.     

Blocking of CTL-mediated killing by monoclonal antibodies to LFA-1 and LYT-2,3. I. Increased susceptibility to blocking after papain treatment of target cells

It is now established that monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against LFA-1 and Lyt-2,3 antigens on cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) block killing function in the absence of C. It has been suggested that the blocking is inversely related to CTL-target affinity. In this report, we studied the effect of papain pretreatment of target cells, because papain is known to remove H-2 and to render target cells more resistant to allospecific CTL. CTL-target conjugate formation was weaker with papain-treated target cells (based on reduced post-dispersion lysis in dextran-containing medium). The concentration of MAb required to produce 40 to 60% inhibition of 51Cr release (2-hr assay) was reduced four to 29-fold for alpha LFA-1 and 64 to 114-fold for alpha Lyt-2,3. Papain, however, did not induce blocking by MAb to other CTL antigens such as Thy-1, H-2, and T200. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that papain selectively removed more than 95% of H-2. In kinetic studies of removal and recovery, H-2 density and conjugate formation correlated well with each other. Sensitivity to blocking was not as well correlated, raising the possibility that an unidentified papain-sensitive target cell molecule other than H-2 plays an important role in CTL-target interaction.     

Differential sensitivity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and lymphokine-activated killer cells to inhibition by L-ornithine

The selective inhibition of murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) differentiation in C57B1/6 (B6) anti-DBA/2 mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) by the amino acid L-ornithine (Orn) could not be reversed by addition of up to 1000 U/ml IL-2. Analysis of the effects of Orn on induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK cells), using dosages of IL-2 from 10-1000 U/ml and measuring cytolytic activity against two tumor targets (P815 and YAC-1) over the course of 5 days, indicated that LAK cells were not suppressed by Orn. LAK precursors and effector cells were CD8- and ASGM1+, indicating that they were derived from natural killer (NK) cells. We also found that the growth and maintenance of cloned CTL lines were not sensitive to inhibition by Orn; nor was their acquisition of nonspecific cytolytic activity in the presence of high lymphokine concentrations. Thus, induction of naive CTL shows differential susceptibility to Orn inhibition relative to LAK and LAK-like activities by NK and cloned CTL lines in response to IL-2.     

Free fatty acids inhibit cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated lysis of allogeneic target cells

Short term exposure of murine CTL clones to long chain cis unsaturated free fatty acid (FFA) inhibits alloantigen specific lysis of cognate target cells, whereas long-chain saturated FFA have no effect. Inhibition of lysis occurs when cis FFA is added before or within 10 min after CTL-target cell conjugate formation and thus appears to interfere with lethal hit delivery. Our previous studies have shown that similar treatment with cis FFA inhibits, in CTL, the Ag stimulated increase in intracellular calcium and degranulation, suggesting that inhibition of lysis probably results from perturbation of the CTL signaling pathway. However, inhibition of lysis is probably not due to the inhibition of the rise in intracellular calcium or degranulation, because lysis can occur under conditions in which FFA inhibit degranulation and because cis FFA inhibit calcium-independent killing. Inhibition of lysis is detectable at unbound FFA concentrations less than 1 microM and is generally complete at concentrations less than 5 microM. Although these levels of FFA are somewhat higher than reported for normal physiologic conditions, plasma FFA levels can be elevated into this range in states of stress and disease, suggesting that FFA modulation of the immune response has important physiologic consequences.     

Analysis of lymphocyte-target conjugates by flow cytometry. I. Discrimination between killer and non-killer lymphocytes bound to targets and sorting of conjugates containing one or multiple lymphocytes

The use of flow cytometric analysis and sorting techniques for the enumeration and purification of lymphocyte-target conjugates was investigated. Murine cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) with killer effector function were identified and quantitated during a 3-hour cell-mediated cytotoxicity reaction using multiparameter analysis. Resolution of conjugates containing single and multiple lymphocytes was achieved by two-color fluorescence, and individual conjugate subpopulations were subsequently sorted for further analysis. To measure total and cytotoxic conjugate frequencies, CTL were labelled with FITC-conjugated Thy 1.2 antibody and dead target cells were stained with propidium iodide (PI). Size difference between the CTL and P815 tumor target cells, as measured by Coulter volume and axial light loss, facilitated detection of conjugates which were identified as both large and Thy 1.2-positive. Conjugates containing dead target cells possessed red fluorescence due to PI uptake. The frequency of conjugates containing cytotoxic activity increased with time during the cytotoxicity period and correlated with frequencies obtained in single-cell assays. Analysis of the distribution of single and multiple lymphocyte-bound conjugates was done by co-centrifugation of Hoechst-stained CTL and FITC-labeled P815 target cells. Analysis by two-color fluorescence effectively resolved conjugate populations containing different numbers of CTL and allowed their purification by cell sorting. The purity of the separate populations was confirmed by fluorescence microscopic inspection. The results of these studies demonstrate that flow cytometry can resolve target-bound and free CTL, measure cytolytic efficiency and specifically sort out cytometrically defined subgroups within the effector cell population.     

Anti-CD3 antibody-induced activated killer cells: cytokines as the additional signals for activation of killer cells in effector phase to mediate slow lysis.

This study examines the role of cytokines in activating the effector cells to mediate slow lysis. After activation of splenocytes by alpha CD3, further culturing the cells in the absence of alpha CD3 resulted in the generation of activated killer cells (CD3-AK-) to mediate slow lysis. In contrast to fast lysis which was not affected by a PKC inhibitor H-7, slow lysis was inhibited. These findings suggested that a PKC-dependent activation phase preceded the lytic phase in slow lysis. To explore the mechanism for activating the lytic machinery in slow lysis, we examined the roles of cytokines in these reactions. First, it was found that alpha IL-2 or an alpha IL-2/alpha IL-4 combination inhibited slow lysis but had no effect on fast lysis. Secondly, IL-2, IL-4, or TNF alpha converted a noncytolytic CD3-AK- cells to mediate slow lysis, but they did not augment fast lysis. IL-2 and IL-4 had additive effect, and TNF alpha synergized with IL-2 to further augment the CD3-AK- cytolytic activity. Exogenous IL-6 and INF did not have any appreciable effect on the cytolytic activity of the killer cells. Besides TNF alpha, these cytokines were not directly cytotoxic to the target cells, indicating that they were not cytotoxic factors per se. Treatment with cycloheximide for 24 hr abrogated the cytolytic activities of CD3-AK cells, suggesting that a cytotoxic factor(s) was continuously synthesized to be stored in activated killer cells and was catabolized within 24 hr. Our results indicated that in the effector phase of slow lysis, after activating the CD3-AK- cells by the first signal (appropriate target cells), IL-2 and/or IL-4 appeared to be the second signal to initiate a cascade of events which triggered the release of other cytokines (e.g., TNF). This process resembles the secondary (memory) type of immune response. These events lead to full activation of the killer cells and converted the preformed cytotoxic factors into active form to initiate the lytic reaction and completed the lytic process.     

Transforming growth factor-beta inhibits the in vitro generation of lymphokine-activated killer cells and cytotoxic T cells

Summary The effect(s) of purified transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on the induction and function of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was examined. The addition of TGF-beta, but not PDGF, to cultures containing fresh C57BL/6 mouse splenocytes or human peripheral blood lymphocytes plus recombinant interleukin-2 markedly inhibited the development of mouse and human LAK cell activity (measured after 3 days for cytotoxicity against cultured or fresh tumor targets in 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assays). The addition of TGF-beta, but not PDGF, to a one-way, C57BL/6 anti-DBA/2, mixed lymphocyte reaction effectively blocked the generation of allospecific CTL as well. However, TGF-beta did not inhibit the effector function of LAK cells or of allospecific CTL when added directly to the short-term cytolytic assay. A second form of homodimeric TGF-beta, type 2, was also found to be suppressive on the development of murine LAK cells and allospecific CTL. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the peptide TGF-beta is a potent inhibitor of LAK cell and CTL generation in vitro.