HLA-A,B Restriction of Cytotoxic T Cells

Abstract

A. J. McMichael and A. Ting, who showed that cytotoxic T lymphocytes and influenza virus infected target cells must share a particular human histocompatibility antigens (HLA) antigen. Cold target inhibition studies were performed to confirm the monovalent specificity of the HLA restricted anti H-Y cytotoxic T cells. Homogeneous cloned cultures provide the opportunity for studying different subsets of cytotoxic T cells, and their membrane specific markers and/or receptors, biological funtions, and biochemical characteristics. Complete removal of the HLA-A2 restricted anti H-Y cytotoxicity was observed when the effector cells recovered from an HLA-A2 positive male monolayer were tested against HLA-A2 positive male target cells. Killer cells, directed against “self” HLA associated with the minor histocompatibility antigen H-Y, can be specifically absorbed by the monolayer. S. M. Friedman and his colleagues used fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) as an hapten for the generation of cytotoxic T cells to FITC-conjugated autologous target cells.