title: CD4+ Th0 cell clones, isolated from a metastatic lymph node of a melanoma patient, possess cytolytic function.
abstract: In the present study T lymphocytes isolated from a metastatic lymph node (T-LNL) of a melanoma patient have been cloned. In the attempt to verify whether T-LNL may acquire in vitro functional activities in the absence of tumour-associated antigens, they were cloned utilizing allogenic lymphocytes as feeder cells. Nineteen clones generated from T-LNL proved to be CD4+ and, among these, five were able to kill autologous and allogeneic human melanoma cells in HLA-class-II-restricted way. On the basis of their cytokine production, these CD4+ cytolytic T-LNL clones were shown to belong to the Th0 subset and three of them expressed the V beta 17 chain of the T cell receptor. These results suggest the presence of melanoma-specific but functionally inactive lymphocytes with T cell receptor oligoclonality in the lymph node environment. These specific T cells may acquire in vitro the capacity to kill autologous and allogeneic tumours without any induction by autologous melanoma cells.
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta