Large granular lymphocytes provide an accessory function in the in vitro development of influenza A virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.
We report that large granular lymphocytes (LGL) have an accessory function in the development of cytotoxic T cells (Tc) through the production of soluble factor(s). LGL and T cells were separated on Percoll gradients and the ability of the separated and of the recombined LGL and T cells to generate influenza A virus-specific Tc activity was measured. When stimulated by virus-infected, irradiated, adherent cells, neither LGL nor T cells cultured separately produced Tc activity. When they were co-cultured, however, even if separated by a 0.22-micron pore size membrane, Tc responses were readily generated from the small T cell precursors and natural killer activity was maintained in the LGL. Thus, LGL were required as accessory cells for Tc responses to occur and the effect was mediated by a soluble factor(s). alpha-Interferon (IFN) was produced in cultures containing LGL and/or stimulating adherent cells, whereas gamma-IFN was only produced in cultures containing both LGL and T cells. Therefore, neither alpha- nor gamma-IFN appeared to be the LGL produced soluble factor that mediated the accessory effect of LGL on Tc responses.
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007372:Interferons