Human T cell clones exerting multiple cytolytic activities show heterogeneity in susceptibility to inhibition by monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

Human cytotoxic T cell clones (CTL) were obtained by limiting dilution after in vitro priming against an allogeneic Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell line (B-LCL) BSM. Three OKT3+, OKT8+ E rosette-forming (RFC) but EA gamma-RFC- clones with cytotoxic activity against the stimulator cell and one "non-cytolytic" clone were expanded for over 50 generations and further characterized. Clone G9 showed allospecific lysis of Cw3+ lymphocytes and B cell lines. Three cytolytic clones (G9, D11, and A3) showed cytotoxicity to the stimulator B-LCL, to the human plasma cell leukemia-derived line LICR-LON-HMY2 and to short-term cultured melanoma cells (O-mel). Four other EBV-transformed B-LCL unrelated to the stimulator B-LCL were not lysed. These clones also exerted cytotoxic activity against NK-sensitive target cells (TC), e.g., the erythroleukemia cell line K562. Other NK-sensitive TC, e.g., lymphoma-derived Daudi cells, were killed provided they were pretreated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cytolytic activity against the B-LCL cell LICR-LON and O-mel, but not against K562 or PHA-treated target cells, was inhibited by monoclonal anti-HLA ABC antibodies (MCA). The cytolytic activities of OKT3+,8+ clones G9 and A3 but not that of OKT3+,8+ clone D11 were inhibited by OKT8. Another MCA, 13.3, directed against the murine glycoprotein T-200, inhibited the cytolytic activity of clone D11 against K562 but not against the stimulator cells. Clone G9 was not inhibited by MCA 13.3. The four clones, including the OKT4+ "non-cytotoxic" clone K12, exerted lytic activity against TC that are normally resistant to lysis provided these TC were pretreated with PHA. The TC specificity range of the clones was confirmed by cold target inhibition experiments. A correlation between blocking of lytic activity by cold TC and the percentage of conjugate formation with the particular cold TC was observed. Because these clones also show differential susceptibility to inhibition of lysis by various MCA, it is concluded that human cytotoxic T cell clones can exert multiple lytic activities, i.e., the operationally defined lytic mechanisms differ at least at certain stages of the lytic cycle.