Frequency analysis of cytolytic T cell precursors (CTL-P) generated in vivo during lethal rabies infection of mice. I. Distinction of CTL-P with different interleukin 2 sensitivity.
The aim of this study was to determine the number and state of activity of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and their precursors (CTL-P) present in vivo during the early stages of viral infection. The local response to lethal infection with rabies virus was used as a model system that is not accessible to analysis by secondary activation in vitro. The local response to alloantigen served as a control. Experimental protocols were established that allow frequency estimates of in vivo antigen-triggered CTL-P. Data allow a distinction between CTL-P activated in vivo by alloantigen and viral antigen with respect to their different capacity to utilize T cell growth factors (interleukins). In vivo alloantigen-primed CTL-P generate, in vitro, an active effector progeny in the presence of interleukins of xenogeneic origin, whereas the majority of virus-specific CTL-P, in spite of considerable expansion in vivo, fail to generate CTL in vitro unless antigen is added.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2