Characterization of blood mononuclear cells reacting with K 562 cells after yellow fever vaccination

At various times after yellow fever (17 D) vaccination mononuclear blood cells were tested for cytotoxic potential in conjugate with K 562. They were characterized with monoclonal reagents Leu2a, Leu4, and OKM1, using indirect immunofluorescent technique. The cytotoxicity against K 562 increased after vaccination with a peak on Days 8–12 when the [³H]thymidine uptake was also maximal. The majority of cells in conjugates with K 562 were then T cells. Later the conjugates contained more OKM1-positive cells. OKM1 reagent was found to react with K 562 and thereby cause a coagglutination between this target cell and the OKM1-positive monocytic cells. The surface moiety reacting with OKM1 reagent might be of lipid nature.