Responses against single minor histocompatibility antigens. II. Analysis of cloned helper T cells.
We have utilized a clonal approach to investigate functional and immunogenetic characteristics of T cells responsive to the miHA H-1.3. Our data prove the existence of H-2 I region-restricted helper T cells that are specific for H-1.3, or for determinants encoded by closely linked loci. These conclusions are based upon the following observations: 1) the cloned Th are driven to proliferate only by H-2 I-compatible stimulator cells that bear the appropriate (H-1.3) miHA; 2) antigenic stimulation causes the cloned Th to secrete lymphokine with high levels of IL 2-like activity; and 3) they are not specifically lytic for relevant target cells. These cloned Th were isolated at a rather low frequency from an H-1.3-immune MLC population compared with the observed frequency of H-1.3-specific Tc that proliferate autonomously after antigen stimulation; i.e., HITc isolated from the same MLC. They were, however, capable of promoting the clonal expansion of an H-1.3-specific HITc, suggesting that Th can collaborate with HITc in an anti-miHA response.
D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008912:Minor Histocompatibility Loci; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2