Relationships among differentiated T-cell subpopulations. II. Cytotoxicity and other functions of T cells specific for nucleated chicken erythrocytes

Abstract

Relationships among T-cell mediated cytotoxicity, tuberculin type hypersensitivity, Jones-Mote type hypersensitivity and activation of helper T cells were studied in AKR mice by means of target cell destruction (⁵¹Cr-release), footpad reaction, migration inhibition test and antibody production against the trinitrophenyl group. (1) Immunization with chicken red blood cells (CRBC) in saline, Freund's incomplete (FIA) or complete adjuvant (FCA) and fixed-CRBC (FRBC) in FIA or FCA induced delayed hypersensitivity as demonstrated by footpad swelling. (2) Migration inhibition was positive in the group immunized with CRBC in saline or FCA, or FRBC in FCA, but negative in those immunized with CRBC or FRBC in FIA. This may suggest that the former has to be assigned to tuberculin type and the latter to Jones-Mote type. (3) T-cell mediated cytotoxicity by immune spleen cells was detected only in mice immunized with CRBC in saline. (4) Pre-treatment with cyclophosphamide augmented delayed footpad reaction in mice immunized with CRBC in saline, but suppressed cytotoxic activity. (5) FRBC in saline scarcely induced delayed footpad reaction and cytotoxic activity, whereas they activated helper function efficiently. Thus, four types of immunological phenomena, attributable to the functions of T cells, may depend upon distinct subpopulations of differentiated T cells which are raised by different methods of immunization.