Fas Ligand-Mediated Lysis of Self Bystander Targets by Human Papillomavirus-Specific CD8 + Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Abstract

Mouse cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) reactive with a H-2D b -presented 9-mer peptide of the human papillomavirus type 16 protein E7 49-57 (RAHYNIVTF) were generated from the spleen cells of wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) or B6 perforin-deficient (B6.P 0 ) mice. CD8 + B6 CTL displayed peptide-specific perforin- and Fas-mediated lysis of E7-transfected mouse RMA lymphoma cells (RMA-E7), while CD8 + CTL from B6.P 0 mice lysed RMA-E7 cells via Fas ligand (FasL) exclusively. Rapid and efficient lysis of syngeneic bystander B6 blasts or RMA cells by either B6 or B6.P 0 Ag-activated CTL was mediated by a FasL-Fas mechanism. Fas-resistant bystanders were not lysed, nor were allogeneic Fas-sensitive C3H/HeJ ( H-2 k ) or BALB/c ( H-2 d ) bystander blasts. Interestingly, however, phorbol myristate acetate-ionomycin preactivation of B6.P 0 effectors enabled lysis of allogeneic H-2 k and H-2 d bystanders even in the absence of antigenic stimulation. Lysis of syngeneic bystander cells was always FasL-Fas dependent and required effector-bystander contact and, in particular, an interaction between CTL LFA-1 and bystander ICAM-1. Thus, in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I molecule-peptide ligation of the T-cell receptors of CD8 + CTL, neighboring bystander cells that are syngeneic and Fas sensitive and express the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 are potential targets of CTL attack.