Simultaneous expression of H-2-restricted and alloreactive recognition by a cloned line of influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Abstract

Based on theoretical considerations and several types of experimental evidence with heterogeneous cell populations it has been proposed that alloreactive T cells and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T cells directed to foreign non-NHC antigens represent overlapping subsets. In this report we provide direct evidence for this hypothesis at the clonal level. We have isolated a cloned continuous influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) line derived from a single (H-2b x H-2(d))F1 CTL precursor which simultaneously exhibits H-2-restricted cytotoxicity of influenza A/Japan/305/57 virus in association with H-2K(d) and alloreactive cytotoxicity for H-2K(k) alloantigen. Cold target inhibition data demonstrate that both MHC-restricted and alloreactive recognition is mediated by the same cell population. In addition to cross-reactivity at the target cell level, we show that this cloned CTL line can be specifically stimulated to proliferate either by A/Japan/305/57 virus-infected cells expressing H-2K(d) or by uninfected cells of the H-2K(k) haplotype.