Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognise allogeneic tolerated TNP-conjugated cells

Abstract

DURING a cytotoxic response, T cells can recognise and react to cell-associated virus antigens¹, minor histocompatibility antigens^2,3 or trinitrophenyl(TNP)-conjugated cell-surface components⁴ only when responder, stimulator and target cells share either K- or D-region determinants of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Two possible explanations for these observations have been discussed: first, cytotoxic T cells recognise non-H–2 antigens but to lyse targets they have to interact with self antigens controlled by the MHC on stimulator and target cells (cell-interaction determinants), and second, T-cell clones recognise and react to new antigenic determinants created by the association of MHC gene products with non-H–2 antigens. We present evidence here that T cells which have matured in a semi-allogeneic environment can recognise, in a specific way, TNP in association with tolerated allogeneic cells not sharing H–2K or H–2D loci with the responding cells.