Cytotoxic T cell responses to haptenated cells. IV. Requirements for in vivo priming

Abstract

Hapten-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) can be generated in cultures containing mouse spleen cells and hapten-coupled syngeneic stimulator cells. A response to sparsely hapten-coupled stimulator cells is only obtained with responder cells from immunized H-2k mice. Immunization was effective with hapten coupled to syngeneic, allogeneic or xenogeneic nucleated cells or membranes thereof. Hapten-coupled erythrocytes, bacteriophages or soluble proteins did not induce CTL precursors (CTL-P) nor responses of other lymphocytes which would interfere with the response of CTL-P. The results show that antigen presentation to CTL-P is very efficient in vivo. Haptens could be presented to and recognized by CTL-P only if coupled to surface membranes of nucleated cells.