Clonal analysis of human T cell activation by the Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen (MAS)

Mycoplasma arthritidis produces an as yet undefined soluble molecule (MAS) that has a potent mitogenic effect on T cells of several species. We have used cloned human cytotoxic and proliferative T lymphocytes to dissect the molecular mechanism of T cell activation by this mitogen. Reactivity to MAS is clonally expressed among T cell receptor (TcR) alpha/beta chain-expressing T cell clones of CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype, as well as CD4-8- TcR alpha/beta chain-negative T lymphocyte clones expressing the CD3-associated TcR gamma chain. MAS is able to induce cytotoxicity and/or proliferation in these T cell clones. For triggering of these T cells, regardless of their phenotype of specificity, the pr…