Cytolytic and proliferative activity of a permanent T killer cell line

Abstract

ATTEMPTS to establish lymphocyte cell lines with specific cytotoxic activity by viral transformation of cytotoxic thymusderived lymphocytes (T killer cells) have been unsuccessful in many laboratories. Screening of thymic lymphomas for specific cytolytic activity and attempts to hybridise thymic lymphomas with T killer cells have also been unsuccessful. During these studies it has become apparent, however, that alloreactive T cells derived from a primary mixed lymphocyte culture can be maintained in tissue culture for several months or even years, provided these cells are periodically stimulated with irradiated allogeneic spleen cells^1,2. Many of these cell lines, although retaining specific proliferative activity, tend to lose their cytolytic activity after about 6–12 months^1–4. This, of course, makes these cell lines less useful for studying the receptor specificity, cytolytic activity or clinical usefulness of T killer cells. Here I report the successful establishment in tissue culture of a cell line which has retained both specific proliferative and cytotoxic activity for almost three years in continuous culture.