title: An influenza virus matrix protein-specific human T cell line with helper activity for in vitro anti-hemagglutinin antibody production.
abstract: A human helper T cell line (F14m) activated by the matrix protein purified from A/X31 influenza virus has been developed. After activation by antigen for 7 days, and reculture with matrix protein and irradiated autologous feeder cells, the cells obtained from an in vivo influenza virus-immunized donor have been growing in the presence of interleukin 2 for more than 7 months. The cells all belong to the helper-inducer T cell subset and most of them express surface membrane HLA-DR antigens. A small number (approximately 10(3)) of F14m T cells provided optimal help for 1 X 10(5) autologous T-depleted lymphocytes for production of anti-A/X31 but not anti-B/HK antibodies. The F14m T cells produce soluble factors (S14m) able to help B cells to secrete anti-A/X31 antibodies. F14m and S14m were shown to help antibody production to hemagglutinin when cultured with B cells and the whole virus. The specificity of the T cell line for type-A matrix protein was confirmed by the ability of S14m to provide help for anti-A/JAP (A/H2/N2) but not for anti-B/HK antibody production. These data provide evidence for matrix protein-specific T helper cells and factors able to provide help for antibody production against hemagglutinin, a distinct protein of the same virus.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007376:Interleukin-2