Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected cells: EBV specificity and involvement of major histocompatibility complex determinants in the lysis exerted by anti-EBV CTL toward HLA-compatible and allogeneic target cells.
Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), from anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seropositive donors, were stimulated by EBV and were shown to be cytotoxic toward autologous, HLA-compatible, and fully allogeneic EBV-transformed target cells. The lysis was not due to natural killer (NK) cells since the target cells used were resistant to lysis by fresh PBL and by virus-stimulated PBL-depleted of AET-SRBC-rosetting T cells (the latter being still fully cytotoxic on K562 NK-susceptible target cells). Conversely only E-rosette-purified (T) lymphocytes killed EBV-transformed HLA-compatible and allogeneic target cells. Moreover, anti-MHC antibodies inhibited the cytotoxicity exerted by EBV-induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) on both autologous and allogeneic target cells. Finally the lysis was EBV specific since PHA blasts were not killed and since only EBV-transformed cells could compete for lysis with the EBV-positive target cells. Efficient competition was achieved by EBV-transformed cells autologous or allogeneic to the targets, even when effector and target cells were fully allogeneic. All together, the data suggest that human anti-EBV CTL may recognize nonpolymorphic HLA determinants on the target cells in association with the virus-induced antigens.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera