title: Phenotypic heterogeneity and cytotoxic activity of Con A and IL-2-stimulated cultures of mouse Thy-1+ epidermal cells.
abstract: Short-term and long-term cultures of mouse Thy-1+ epidermal cells (EC) were established in order to characterize their phenotypic and functional properties. Concanavalin A (Con A) and Interleukin 2 (IL-2) stimulated Thy-1+ EC mediated non-MHC directed cytotoxicity preferentially against the NK-sensitive target, YAC-1 vs the NK-resistant target, P815; these cells also mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), indicating the presence of IgG-FcR on at least some of them. Freshly isolated Thy-1+ EC failed to lyse YAC-1 targets; however, this activity was observed after 9 d of culture with Con A and IL-2. While dendritic Thy-1+ EC, in vivo, do not express the T-cell markers, L3T4 and Lyt-2, short-term cultured cells displayed phenotypic heterogeneity with small but significant percentages of Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ cells appearing transiently. The phenotype of the effector cell(s), which mediates cytotoxic activity, was determined by utilizing flow cytometry to sort short-term cultured EC into positively and negatively stained populations. Cells which express L3T4, or which lack asialo GM1, did not lyse YAC-1 targets; maximum cytotoxic activity was found within populations of cells which are asialo GM1+, Lyt-2-, and asialo GM1+, Lyt-2+. These studies indicate that Thy-1+ cells derived from mouse epidermis when cultured in the presence of Con A and IL-2 have the capacity to generate a phenotypically heterogeneous population, some cells of which are capable of mediating cytotoxic activities.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D003208:Concanavalin A