Cooperation between CD4 T helper cells is required for the generation of alloantigen-specific, IFN-gamma-producing human CD4 T cells.
We have used MLR to assess the cell interactions that enable human PBL stimulated with irradiated, allogeneic PBL to give rise to allospecific, IFN-gamma-producing CD4 T cells. We were able to generate alloantigen-specific, IFN-gamma-producing T cells from peripheral blood. The responder and stimulator cell numbers required for the optimal generation of such cells, enumerated using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay, were separately determined for various combinations of responders and stimulators. The number of antigen-specific, IFN-gamma-producing cells generated per 10(6) responder cells, seeded at the initiation of culture, is critically dependent on the density of the responder cells, with minimal generation of IFN-gamma-producing T cells at low responder densities. These and further observations with fractionated responding PBL show that CD4 T-cell/CD4 T-cell interactions, which are completely independent of CD8() T cells, are necessary for the in vitro generation of alloantigen-specific, IFN-gamma-producing CD4 T cells.
Strutt
Tara
T
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Bretscher
Peter
P
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D007519:Isoantigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma