Vaccinia virus proteins on the plasma membranes of infected cells. II. Expression of viral antigens and killing of infected cells by vaccinia virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.
Evidence is presented that virion-derived antigens as well as viral antigens expressed on cell surfaces after infection, may participate in the formation of "target-antigen complexes" (TACs) which render vaccinia virus-infected cells susceptible to recognition and killing by syngeneic, vaccinia virus-specific cytotoxic T cells (VV-CTLs). By employing L cells infected with trypsin-treated and untreated virions, evidence was obtained that proteins with molecular weights of 32K and 37K may be among the virion-derived antigens which participate in TAC formation. Following virus infection, a sequential expression of virus-specified antigens on the plasma membrane of infected cells could be detected. At 1 hr p.i., polypeptides with molecular weights of 48K-50K and 36K-37K were present on infected cell surfaces; by 2 hr p.i., polypeptides with molecular weights of 48K-50K, 42K-44K, 36K-37K, 29K-30K, and 16K-17K were detected on plasma membranes. As measured by in vitro, 51Cr-release assays, vaccinia virus-infected L cells were completely susceptible to lysis by VV-CTLs (greater than or equal to 50% measured specific lysis) when (a) "early" but not late viral functions were expressed as measured with virus-infected cells which had been treated with hydroxyurea (5 X 10(-3) M) to block DNA replication or (b) when active protein synthesis was allowed to proceed for 90 min postadsorption and the infected cells were then treated with cycloheximide (100 micrograms/ml) to block further protein synthesis. Under these experimental conditions, polypeptides with molecular weights of 58K, 48K-50K, 42K, 36K-37K, 34K, 32K-33K, 27K-29K, and 16K-17K were expressed on the plasma membranes of vaccinia virus-infected cells but not uninfected cells. Whether each of the virion-derived and (or) virus-encoded polypeptides can associate with Class I, major histocompatibility antigens on the surfaces of virus-infected cells to form a primary or cross-reacting TAC recognized by VV-CTLs remains to be investigated.
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007739:L Cells; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D014764:Viral Proteins; D003513:Cycloheximide; D014357:Trypsin