Antigen-specific Lyt-2+ cytolytic T lymphocytes from mice infected with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
In vitro expanded T cell lines were used to determine whether antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes are generated after infection with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. Spleen cells from infected mice were cultured in the presence of syngeneic accessory cells, listerial antigen, and interleukin 2 containing supernatants. Cell lines were greater than 98% Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-2+. Bone-marrow macrophages were used as target cells in two in vitro cytolytic assay systems. The Lyt-2+ T cells killed bone marrow macrophages only when infected with L. monocytogenes as assessed in a 4-hr 51Cr release assay and in an 18-hr neutral red uptake assay. Cytolysis was blocked by anti-LFA-1 and anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies. These cytolytic T cells produced interferon-gamma after co-stimulation with antigen, accessory cells, and recombinant interleukin 2. Bone marrow macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis were not killed by T cells from L. monocytogenes-infected mice but by T cell lines from M. bovis-infected mice, indicating that cytolysis was antigen specific. L. monocytogenes-infected target cells of different haplotype were lysed by the Lyt-2+ T cells. By using a low cell density split culture system, antigen-specific, H-2-restricted cytolytic T cells could be identified. These findings demonstrate that during infection with intracellular bacteria, Lyt-2+ T cells with cytolytic activity are generated that may be involved in antibacterial protection.
D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006239:Haplotypes; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000950:Antigens, Ly; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins