Cytotoxic T cells distinguish between trinitrophenyl- and dinitrophenyl-modified syngeneic cells.
Spleen cells sensitized against trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified stimulator cells displayed a cytotoxic effect against syngeneic TNP-modified but not dinitrophenyl (DNP)-modified target cells. The same finding was observed in the opposite direction; that is, effector cells sensitized against DNP-modified stimulator cells did not cross kill TNP-modified targets. The specificity of the anti-TNP effector cells was confirmed in a cold target competition assay. Presensitization in vivo with hapten-modified cells followed by rechallenge and testing in vitro did not alter the specificity of the response between the haptens. These data indicate that the receptor(s) on the cytotoxic T cell can distinguish between two closely related haptenic molecules.
D000818:Animals; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006241:Haptens; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D000939:Epitopes; D006241:Haptens; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes