Killing of antigen-reactive B cells by class II-restricted, soluble antigen-specific CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes.
Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are generally thought to recognize cellular antigens presented by class I MHC molecules. A number of studies, however, have revealed responses of considerable magnitude involving both CD8+ and CD4+ CTLs with class II restriction, suggesting that class II-restricted CTLs recognizing exogeneous protein antigens may exist. As class II antigens are normally expressed on limited types of cells such as B cells and macrophages, such CTLs might be expected to exert a suppressive effect on antibody responses. Here we report that stimulation of mouse lymphocytes with a soluble antigen induced CD8+ and CD4+ CTLs specific for the antigen with class II restriction. The specific lysis was far more efficient when target B cells specifically recognized the antigen than when they did not, indicating that the primary targets for these CTLs are probably B cells expressing immunoglobulin receptors reactive for the same antigen molecule. These results suggest that the natural occurrence of such CTLs during immune responses may explain antigen-specific suppression on antibody responses by T cells.
Shinohara
N
N
Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Watanabe
M
M
Sachs
D H
DH
Hozumi
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006241:Haptens; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection
D000941:Antigens; D006241:Haptens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C054401:trinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin; D010047:Ovalbumin; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin