Impact of thymus on the generation of immunocompetence and diversity of antigen-specific MHC-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors.

T-cell-derived helper factor allows in vivo induction of cytotoxic T cells in nu/nu mice

T-cell immunocompetence and diversity are thought to be generated in the thymus1,2. This view is based on the findings that (1) T-cell ontogeny is thymus dependent3,4, (2) the major histocompatibility restrictions of T-cell interactions are phenotypically related to the H–2 type of the thymus5–9, and (3) the phenotypic manifestation of H–2-linked immune responsiveness parallels the restriction elements selected in thymus10–12. However, it is unclear whether pre-thymic cells programmed to develop into T cells do already express a receptor diversity, also whether pre-thymic cells have the potential to react against self-antigens, and whether the mechanism of self-tolerance is initiated in the…

Frequency-Analysis of Precursors of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Radiation Chimeras: Enumeration of Antigenspecific CTL-P Restricted to Thymic MHC- and Bone Marrow-MHC-Determinants

The mechanisms controlling the acquisition of T cell restriction specificity and immunocompetence are, despite of numerous investigations, not well understood. From studies of the CTL-immune responsiveness in thymus- and bone marrow-grafted chimeric mice, it became apparent, that it is the thymus which is crucial not only for the maturation or T cells, but also for the specificity repertoire of the T cells (1,2). From these data it was suggested, that during intra-thymic maturation both mutational events and positive selection mechanisms influence the repertoire such that only T cells restricted to thymic epithelial cell MHC determinants mature and will be exported to the peripheral lymphoi…

The in Vivo Effects of Interleukin 2 (TCGF)

This brief review of our experiments concerning the in vivo activity of crude Il-2 led us to the following conclusion: The first is the existence, in vivo, of a cyclophosphamide-sensitive T-cell controlling the activity of a serum born Il-2 inhibitor in thymus-bearing normal mice. Under in vivo conditions which are characterized by high Il-2 inhibitor activities, locally applied Il-2 administered along with antigen amplified in vivo CTL-responsiveness, yet the effect observed was poor. Crude Il-2 proved to be a potent immuno-enhancing agent in the athymic (nu/nu) mouse, which lacks Il-2 inhibitor activity. It was found that together with antigen administration of Il-2 to nude mice results i…

Cyclosporin A mediates immunosuppression of primary cytotoxic T cell responses by impairing the release of interleukin 1 and interleukin 2

The site of action of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A in in vitro cytotoxic allograft responses has been localized. General cytotoxic effects of the drug on proliferating T cells became apparent at concentrations of 500-1000 ng/ml, while selective effects were observed at concentrations of 10-100 ng/ml. The selective effects included a blockade of interleukin 2 release from activated T helper cells on the one hand and inhibition of interleukin 1 release from splenic adherent cells on the other. While cyclosporin A did not interfere with the intracellular events required for the activation and subsequent clonal expansion of alloreactive T cells, the lack of interleukin 1 and interle…

Alloreactive and H-2-restricted Lyt 23 cytotoxic T lymphocytes derive from a common pool of antecedent Lyt 123 precursors.

If the collaborative requirement of Lyt 1 T helper cells is bypassed by the Lyt 1 T cell-derived mediator of T help, termed Il-2, upon antigenic stimulation, PNA+ Lyt 123 thymocytes differentiate into either alloreactive or H-2-restricted PNA- Lyt 23 cytotoxic effector cells. Along the differentiation pathway from Lyt 123 leads to 23 effector cells, cytolytic activity is carried out by T cells that still express the Lyt 123 phenotype. The data establish that Lyt 23 CTL are produced by differentiation from antecedent Lyt 123 cells.