IL-2 and IL-4 mediate through two distinct kinase pathways for the activation of alphaCD3-induced activated killer cells.

The present study has examined the role of IL-2 and IL-4 in the regulation of different kinase pathways for the generation of alphaCD3-induced activated killer cells, CD3-AK. It has previously been shown that the IL-2 promoted CD3-AK cell response is mediated through a PKC (protein kinase C)-dependent pathway, which is susceptible to PKC inhibitors and resistant to inhibitors of PTK (protein tyrosine kinase), and that IL-4 synergized with IL-2 to induce CD3-AK cells. However, the IL-4-promoted CD3-AK cell response was PKC-independent as assessed by its resistance to PKC inhibitors. These findings suggest a dichotomy in the pathways leading to CD3-AK cell generation. To further determine whether IL-4 mediated a different kinase pathway to activate the T cells, we studied its effect on protein tyrosine phosphorylation. IL-4 up-regulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation in CD3-AK cells in a dose-dependent fashion, and resulted in increased levels of a number of phosphorylated proteins. Of particular note was the increase of tyrosine phosphorylated p56(lck) and p59(fyn) in CD3-AK cells. The changes in global protein tyrosine phosphorylation were correlated with the up-regulation by IL-4 of CD3-AK cell cytolytic activity, and the production of granzyme A. alphaIL-4 specifically blocked all the effects which were induced by IL-4. The PTK inhibitor genistein inhibited the IL-4-augmented cytolytic activity of CD3-AK cells as well as the IL-4-induced augmentation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation to the basal level of CD3-AK cells cultured in IL-2 alone. Consistent with a dichotomy in pathways for IL-2- and IL-4-mediated CD3-AK generation, genistein had no effect on the generation of CD3-AK cells cultured in IL-2 alone. Thus while PKC is primarily involved in the generation of IL-2-promoted CD3-AK cells, PTK appears to be required for the regulation of IL-4-promoted CD3-AK response.

Reversal of multiple-site tumor cell-induced immunosuppression by specific cytokines and pharmacological agents.

The present study explores a model for tumor cell-induced immunosuppression and reversal of suppression by cytokines and other pharmacological agents. To simulate tumor-cell-induced suppression, a panel of suppressor agents which included CsA (cyclosporin A), SSP (staurosporine), BSO (L-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine) and PMA, and a panel of anti-suppressor agents which included IL-2, IL-4, GSH (glutathione) and amiloride, were tested. These suppressor/anti-suppressor agents acted differently on four specific sites of the immune arm that affected the alpha CD3-induced T cell proliferative and cytotoxic responses. They included (1) IL-2 production, (2) PKC-regulated cytolytic granule production, (3) GSH-regulated maturation of functional granules, and (4) granule exocytosis. When a single suppressor agent was used, all the suppressor agents tested in this study inhibited the generation of alpha CD3-induced activated killer cells (CD3-AK), whereas alpha CD3-induced proliferation was inhibited by CsA, BSO, and EL-4 tumor cells. Except for EL-4, suppression induced by a single suppressor agent could be corrected by an appropriate single anti-suppressor agent. Multiple suppressor agents induced profound suppression of CD3-AK response. In most cases, multiple anti-suppressor agents were required to correct the immune defects induced by multiple suppressor agents. Finally, EL-4 tumor-cell-induced immunosuppression could not be corrected by any single anti-suppressor agent tested, but a combination of IL-4, GSH and amiloride fully restored the CD3-AK response. These results suggest that tumor cells may induce multiple immune defects that require multiple anti-suppressor agents for correcting the defects to restore the host immunocompetence.

Regulation by glutathione of the activation and differentiation of IL-4-dependent activated killer cells.

Glutathione (GSH) was shown to regulate the generation of IL-2-dependent activated killer cells. Generation of alpha CD3-activated killer cells CD3-AK was regulated by both IL-2 and IL-4. In the present study the role of GSH in the regulation of IL-4-dependent CD3-AK cells was examined. After initial activation of mouse splenocytes by alpha CD3, subculturing the CD3-AK cells in IL-4 resulted in the production of IL-4-dependent killer cells whose proliferative and cytolytic activities were abrogated by alpha IL-4 antibody 11B11. Adding graded doses of BSO, a GSH synthetase inhibitor, into CD3-AK cells culturing in IL-4 resulted in the reduction of their proliferative and cytotoxic responses. Adding exogenous GSH reversed the inhibitory effect of BSO and restored the proliferation and cytolytic activity of IL-4-dependent CD3-AK cells. The dose requirement for BSO to affect the IL-4-dependent CD3-AK cells was similar to that for the IL-2-dependent CD3-AK cells. These findings indicate that GSH also regulates the function of IL-4 in the activation and differentiation of CD3-AK cells. To further study the mechanism for the GSH regulation of the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK cells, we found that BSO did not reduce the production of BLT-esterase which contained mostly the cytolytic granules; in fact, BLT-esterase production was often increased by BSO. Furthermore, the exocytosis and effector function of cytolytic granules were also not affected by BSO. Thus it appears that reduction of cellular GSH may result in the accumulation of defective cytolytic granules which accounts for the reduction of killer cell cytolytic activity.

Role of protein kinase C and cytokines on the function and production of cytolytic granules in alpha CD3-activated killer-cell-mediated killing of tumor cells.

The effects of PMA and staurosporine (PKC depletor/antagonist) and IL-2/IL4 were used to determine the role of PKC and cytokine on alpha CD3-induced activated killer cells (CD3-AK). The present study examines their effects on the production of BLT-esterase and on the effector function of CD3-AK cells as well as the cytolytic granules. The production of BLT-esterase generally correlated with the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK cells and was reduced by PKC depletor/inhibitor but increased by IL-4. In studying the effector function of CD3-AK cells, we found that adding PMA or SSP at the effector phase inhibited the PKC-dependent slow lysis. PMA, but not SSP, also reduced fast lysis, which was shown to be a PKC-independent event. Additional experiments were performed to determine the effect of PKC on the lytic granules and to ascertain whether PMA has other effects on the effector-to-target relationship unrelated to PKC. It was found that neither PMA nor SSP affects the function of cytolytic granules, as measured by hemolytic assay against anucleated target (SRBC). These findings indicate that PKC has no direct effect on the granules. During testing against the nucleated tumor target through a novel approach using non-cytolytic surrogate killers, the lytic activity of the granules was inhibited by PMA, suggesting that exocytosis or delivery of granules to nucleated target cells may require mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in the killer cells, and this process is inhibited by PMA. Our findings indicate that PKC and cytokines regulate the production but not the lytic activity of cytolytic granules. Nonetheless, delivery of cytolytic granules from killer cells to the nucleated tumor target appears to be a Ca(2+)-dependent event unrelated to PKC.

Dichotomy of glutathione regulation of the activation of resting and preactivated lymphocytes.

The present study has examined the effect of GSH on two lines of IL-2-dependent activated killer cells, LAK cells and alpha CD3-activated killer (CD3-AK) cells. We found that GSH added during first 24 hr decreased the generation of LAK and CD3-AK cells from resting lymphocytes, whereas after 48 hr of activation, the addition of GSH increased the killer cell activity. In addition, BSO, an inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, decreased the proliferation and cytotoxic activities of activated killer cells, and the inhibitory effect was reversed by GSH. These results indicate that GSH downregulates the generation of LAK or CD3-AK cells from resting lymphocytes, but it upregulates the further differentiation of preactivated killer cells. The effect of GSH thus varied with the state of activation of the killer cells. Culturing CD3-AK cells in GSH did not change the distribution of T cell subsets, did not affect the cells' ability to produce lymphokine (IL-2), and did not induce suppressor cells. One striking change as revealed by flow cytometry analysis was that the levels of IL-2 receptor and TCR (alpha/beta)-CD3 were reduced by 80 and 30%, respectively, after 48 hr culturing in GSH. Determination of the mRNA of IL-2 receptor suggests that a post-transcriptional block existed. It appears that the negative effect of GSH on the function of surface IL-2 receptors or T cell receptors on resting lymphocytes severely affected the signal transduction through these receptors and thus abrogated or reduced LAK or CD3-AK cell response. In contrast, for preactivated killer cells, upregulation by intracellular GSH of IL-2 utilization is a dominant effect, thus allowing further differentiation of these killer cells. Our results indicate that the balance between the activation signal (IL-2 or alpha CD3) and the immunoregulatory signal (induced by GSH) may determine the outcome of the immune response.

IL-4 regulation of a protein kinase C independent pathway for the generation of alpha CD3-induced activated killer cells.

alpha CD3 induced the generation of activated killer cells from resting T cells. Pretreatment of the splenic responders with PMA, a phorbol ester, depleted protein kinase C and induced unresponsiveness to the generation of alpha CD3-induced activated killer (CD3-AK) cells. Addition of exogenous IL-4 (1 U/ml) restored the cytotoxic response, with the maximal effect achieved with 30 to 100 U/ml. The phenotypes of CD3-AK cells maintained in IL-2 or in IL-4, with or without PMA, were the same: Thy1+ and CD8+. These results were reproduced with purified T cells and purified CD8+ cells, indicating that both the effectors and precursors were CD8+ cells and IL-4 had a selective effect to upregulate the CD8+ cells. Similar results were obtained by using SSP (staurosporine), another PKC inhibitor. At 2 days prior to testing, switching the lymphokine added to 2-week PMA- and IL-2-maintained CD3-AK cells reversed their cytolytic activity: switching from IL-2 to IL-4 restored cytolytic activity, and switching from IL-4 to IL-2 reduced cytolytic activity. The cytolytic activity of these CD3-AK cells correlated with their ability to produce BLT-esterase. In the absence of PMA, CD3-AK cells cultured in either IL-2 or IL-4 were cytolytic and contained high levels of BLT-esterase. In contrast, in the presence of PMA, only the IL-4-maintained CD3-AK cells were cytolytic and produced significant amounts of BLT-esterase. The effect of IL-4 was abrogated by the alpha IL-4 antibody 11B11, which reduced the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK and the ability to produce BLT-esterase. The requirement of IL-2 was less stringent and its major role appeared to be maintaining the cell growth. These findings indicate that IL-4 may participate in the regulation of a PKC-independent pathway for the generation of CD3-AK cells by regulating the production of cytolytic granules.

Anti-CD3 antibody-induced activated killer cells: cytokines as the additional signals for activation of killer cells in effector phase to mediate slow lysis.

This study examines the role of cytokines in activating the effector cells to mediate slow lysis. After activation of splenocytes by alpha CD3, further culturing the cells in the absence of alpha CD3 resulted in the generation of activated killer cells (CD3-AK-) to mediate slow lysis. In contrast to fast lysis which was not affected by a PKC inhibitor H-7, slow lysis was inhibited. These findings suggested that a PKC-dependent activation phase preceded the lytic phase in slow lysis. To explore the mechanism for activating the lytic machinery in slow lysis, we examined the roles of cytokines in these reactions. First, it was found that alpha IL-2 or an alpha IL-2/alpha IL-4 combination inhibited slow lysis but had no effect on fast lysis. Secondly, IL-2, IL-4, or TNF alpha converted a noncytolytic CD3-AK- cells to mediate slow lysis, but they did not augment fast lysis. IL-2 and IL-4 had additive effect, and TNF alpha synergized with IL-2 to further augment the CD3-AK- cytolytic activity. Exogenous IL-6 and INF did not have any appreciable effect on the cytolytic activity of the killer cells. Besides TNF alpha, these cytokines were not directly cytotoxic to the target cells, indicating that they were not cytotoxic factors per se. Treatment with cycloheximide for 24 hr abrogated the cytolytic activities of CD3-AK cells, suggesting that a cytotoxic factor(s) was continuously synthesized to be stored in activated killer cells and was catabolized within 24 hr. Our results indicated that in the effector phase of slow lysis, after activating the CD3-AK- cells by the first signal (appropriate target cells), IL-2 and/or IL-4 appeared to be the second signal to initiate a cascade of events which triggered the release of other cytokines (e.g., TNF). This process resembles the secondary (memory) type of immune response. These events lead to full activation of the killer cells and converted the preformed cytotoxic factors into active form to initiate the lytic reaction and completed the lytic process.

Regulation by glutathione of the effect of lymphokines on differentiation of primary activated lymphocytes. Influence of glutathione on cytotoxic activity of CD3-AK-.

By activating murine lymphocytes with anti-CD3 antibodies for 1 to 2 days, we generated a subset of activated killer cells, namely CD3-AK-. CD3-AK- mediated the slow lysis (20-h 125I-UdR release assay) of allogeneic P815 but had little effect on syngeneic HFL/b cells. Addition of IL-2 (murine or human) or an IL-2 inducer such as PMA in the assay medium induced the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK- on HFL/b. The activating effect of murine IL-2 and PMA on CD3-AK- was decreased by anti-murine IL-2 mAb. Although anti-murine IL-4 mAb alone did not show any effect, it enhanced the inhibitory effect of anti-IL-2 mAb, suggesting that IL-2 and IL-4 may have a synergistic effect on the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK-. Incubation of CD3-AK- with L-buthionine-(SR)-sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of de novo glutathione (GSH) synthesis, decreased cellular GSH levels and inhibited the cytolytic activity of CD3-AK-, in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of BSO was not primarily due to a general cytotoxic effect and was positively correlated with the requirement for IL-2 for the CD3-AK(-)-mediated killing of the target cells. Incubation of CD3-AK- with GSH or 2-ME, which increased the level of cellular GSH, reversed the inhibitory effect of BSO. These results suggest that cellular GSH may regulate the effect of lymphokine(s) such as IL-2 and thus affect the differentiation of activated primary cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Anti-CD3 antibody-induced activated killer cells subsets of killer cells that mediate fast or slow lytic reactions.

The present study has characterized two sets of alpha CD3-induced activated killer cells (CD3-AK). A 2 to 4-h 51Cr release assay or triton-treated 125IUdR release assay demonstrated that CD3-AK cultured in the continuous presence of alpha CD3 (CD3-AK+) mediated fast lysis. A 20-h 51Cr or 125I-deoxyuridine release assay demonstrated that CD3-AK cultured in the absence of alpha CD3 (CD3-AK-) mediated slow lysis. Activating the TCR-CD3 complex of CD3-AK- cells with alpha CD3 for 2 h enabled the killer cells to mediate fast lysis. The activation process was inhibited by H-7, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Conversely, removal of alpha CD3 from CD3-AK+ cell cultures for 24 h resulted in almost complete loss of the ability of CD3-AK+ cells to mediate fast lysis, but they still retained the ability to mediate slow lysis. It appeared that constant perturbation of CD3 by alpha CD3 maintained the CD3-AK+ cells in an active state, and thus, they were able to mediate fast lysis. On the other hand, activation by a 2-h incubation with PMA could convert the noncytolytic CD3-AK- cells to be cytolytic in slow lysis and to augment the slow lytic reactions mediated by CD3-AK- cell with low cytolytic activity. These results were confirmed by triton-treated 125IUdR release assay which could detect early DNA-release. Thus it appeared that activation of CD3-AK cells with T cell activation signals that bypassed TCR (such as PMA) could induce slow lysis. In the effector phase of lytic reactions, the fast lytic reaction was relatively resistant to inhibition by H-7, whereas the slow lytic reaction was susceptible to H-7 inhibition, indicating that fast lysis was PKC independent and slow lysis was PKC dependent. It was further found that H-7 inhibition was at an early stage of slow lysis, suggesting that a PKC dependent activation process preceded the PKC independent lytic process. These findings indicated that the CD3-AK- cells were in a less activated state which required further activation to turn on their lytic machinery to initiate the lytic reaction.

In vivo antitumor activity of anti-CD3-induced activated killer cells.

This study investigates the potential of the alpha CD3-induced killer cells for use in adoptive immunotherapy of tumor growth. The alpha CD3-induced, activated, killer cells (CD3-AK) were generated in DBA/2 (H-2d) splenocytes by preactivation with alpha CD3 and were then cultured in the presence (CD3-AK [alpha CD3+]) or absence (CD3-AK [alpha CD3-]) of alpha CD3. The conventional lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells were induced by culturing DBA/2 splenocytes with purified human recombinant interleukin 2. Testing their in vitro cytotoxicity against syngeneic mastocytoma P815, CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells gave the highest levels of cytotoxicity and were 20-fold higher than LAK cells and 200-fold higher than CD3-AK (alpha CD3-) cells. However, the cytotoxic activity of LAK or CD3-AK (alpha CD3-) cells was augmented by preincubating them with alpha CD3 for 3 h; then, the difference in cytotoxic activity was reduced from 20- to 4-fold and from 200- to 2-fold, respectively. The in vivo antitumor activity of these killer cells paralleled the in vitro activity. In tests using tumor neutralization experiments, 80-100% of the mice that were challenged with 1 x 10(2) P815 cells remained tumor free after receiving 5 x 10(6) CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells. When the challenge dose increased to 1 x 10(3) and to 1 x 10(4) cells, giving CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells slowed down the rate of tumor growth but only 20% of the mice remained tumor free. The untreated LAK cells or CD3-AK (alpha CD3-) cells did not induce any protection. After preincubation with alpha CD3 for 3 h, the CD3-AK (alpha CD3-) cells provided protection in 30% of the challenged mice. The phenotype of effectors for mediating the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities was found to be Thy1+, CD4-, and CD8+ cells. Flow microfluorometry analysis showed that the higher levels of cytotoxic activity obtained with CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells could not be simply explained by the increase of CD8+ cells, and the cytotoxic activity of individual CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells appeared to be much higher than that of the LAK cells. After tumor growth was established for 1-2 days, giving CD3-AK (alpha CD3+) cells slowed down the rate of tumor growth, and 20% of the mice remained tumor free. These results indicate that CD3-AK cells may be used in the immunotherapy of tumor growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Augmentation by anti-T3 antibody of the lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

This study showed that a mAb (145-2C11) against the T3 epsilon-chain of the TCR complex augmented the cytotoxic activity of the lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) effectors. The LAK cells were induced by culturing normal spleen cells with purified human rIL-2. Adding alpha T3 at the effector phase of the cytotoxic reactions augmented the LAK-mediated cytotoxicity. The alpha T3-augmented LAK killing was seen only with tumor targets, and there was no increase of killing against Con A-induced lymphoblasts. The augmentation effect was dose dependent on both the amounts of alpha T3 and the number of LAK cells added. A very low concentration of alpha T3 (1/10,000 dilution of culture supernatants) was sufficient to induce alpha T3-augmented LAK-mediated cytotoxicity. Human rIL-2 at 10 to 30 U/ml was sufficient to generate LAK cells for maximal alpha T3 augmentation, whereas 300 to 1000 U/ml of IL-2 were needed to generate maximal LAK activity when tested in the absence of alpha T3. LAK cells generated for longer periods of time showed a progressive increase of alpha T3-augmented cytotoxicity. For some targets, the alpha T3-augmented LAK killing was FcR dependent as evidenced by the ability of alpha FcR mAb 2.4G2 to inhibit, and for others it was not inhibited. The alpha T3-augmented killing did not correlate with the FcR expression on target cells as defined by 2.4G2. The LAK cells were both Lyt-2+ and Lyt-2-, but the LAK cells involved in alpha T3-augmented killing were exclusively Lyt-2+. Preincubation of LAK cells with alpha T3, but not preincubation of targets with alpha T3, resulted in augmented killing suggesting that the alpha T3 effect was unrelated to an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our findings indicate that alpha T3 is a potent reagent to augment the cytotoxic reaction of LAK cells. These results suggested that a relationship might exist between the T3 complex and the cytotoxic activity of a subpopulation of Lyt-2+ LAK cells.

Heterogeneity of long-term cultured activated killer cells induced by anti-T3 antibody.

The present study has characterized the short term and long term cultured murine-activated killer (AK) cells that are induced by antibody directed against the epsilon-chain of T3 complex. The conventional lymphokine AK (LAK) cells were generated by culturing normal B6 spleen cells with purified human rIL-2. The alpha T3-induced AK cells (T3AK) were induced by culturing normal B6 spleen cells with alpha T3 and were then maintained in culture medium supplemented with human rIL-2 and/or alpha T3. After initial activation with alpha T3, lymphocyte proliferation and generation of cytotoxic effectors (T3AK) were noted, and these events were related to the endogenous production of IL-2 and IL-4. Addition of alpha IL-2 and/or alpha IL-4 suppressed both the proliferative response and the cytotoxic response induced by alpha T3. In comparing the T3AK cells with the conventional LAK cells, there were many similarities as well as some distinct differences. Both cells displayed a similar cytotoxic spectrum against a variety of tumor targets. The T3AK cells usually gave much higher levels of cytotoxic activity against susceptible targets. However, the susceptibility of different tumor targets to conventional LAK cells and T3AK cells varied. The time course for the generation of lytic activity also differed between the conventional LAK and T3AK cells. One distinct difference was their ability to survive in vitro. The conventional LAK cells survived in culture for only 1 wk. The T3AK cells could survive for at least 4 to 5 wk with active growth. The serologic phenotype of the LAK precursors was asialo GM1 (AsGM1+) cells, but the T3AK precursors could be either AsGM1+ or AsGM1-, depending on the target cell. The LAK effectors were both Lyt-2+ and Lyt-2-, but the short-term T3AK effectors were exclusively Lyt-2+. The long term T3AK cells (cultured for more than 2 wk) were found to consist of Lyt-2+ and Lyt-2- cells, and these subsets of T3AK cells showed different target specificities. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of LAK and T3AK cells, and this heterogeneous property may contribute to their diversity in specificity against different tumor targets and thus may affect their effectiveness in the immunotherapy of cancer.

Asialo GM1 as an accessory molecule determining the function and reactivity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The expression and function of asialo-GM1 (AsGM1) in alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was studied. We have shown previously that the cytotoxic reactions mediated by AsGM1+-cloned CTL were blocked by anti-AsGM1 or by purified AsGM1. To further determine the role of AsGM1 in CTL-mediated cytotoxicity, we examined the correlation between this blocking effect and the expression of AsGM1 on effector and target cells. Now we found that the blocking by anti-AsGM1 was largely dependent on the expression of AsGM1 on the effector cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The expression of AsGM1 on target cells had only little effect on the blocking of cytotoxic reactions by anti-AsGM1 or AsGM1. A threefold difference was seen in the blocking of AsGM1+ and AsGM1- targets. The observation was in sharp contrast to the effectors as no blocking was ever seen with AsGM1- CTL. Similar to CTL effectors, we found that the expression of AsGM1 and L3T4 were mutually excluded on mitogen-activated T cells, despite the fact that they could coexpress in resting T cells. The expression of AsGM1 on CTL effectors was associated with the antigen-nonspecific natural killer (NK)-like or lymphokine-activated killer (LAK)-like activity exerted by the alloreactive CTL. All AsGM1+ CTL possessed LAK activity against antigen-unrelated tumor targets, and the AsGM1- CTL only displayed antigen-specific alloreactivity. The LAK activity was associated with the expression of AsGM1 on effectors, and was not related to the AsGM1 expression on target cells. These findings indicate that the AsGM1 expressed on alloreactive CTL may function as an accessory molecule for T-cell receptors in the antigen-specific alloreactive cytotoxicity mediated by AsGM1+ CTL. The expression of AsGM1 may also be related to the activation of an NK-like apparatus in these CTL. Therefore, AsGM1 not only may be involved in cytotoxic reactions mediated by AsGM1+ CTL, it may also modulate the specificity of the CTL cytotoxicity.

Generation of activated killer cells in tumor-bearing hosts.

Activated killer (AK) cells were generated in spleen-cell cultures derived from tumor-bearing hosts (TS) whereas, under the same conditions, cultured normal spleen cells (NS) gave little cytotoxicity. The AK effectors were primarily Thy1+, AGM1- and Lyt2- and thus were neither classic cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) nor classic NK cells. These AK cells selectively killed tumor targets of different etiologic origins and did not kill concanavalin-A-induced lymphoblasts. The broad target-cell reactivity of these AK cells was also confirmed by cold target-inhibition experiments. Generation of AK cell correlated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, and the levels of AK cells generation paralleled those of IL-2 production. Furthermore, the generation of AK cells was blocked by the anti-IL-2 receptor monoclonal antibody (MAb) (alpha IL-2R), indicating that IL-2 was involved, and thus these AK cells were lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. We previously showed that the expression of AGM1 on LAK precursors disappeared when they differentiated into LAK effectors, indicating that the activated LAK cells lacked AGM1. When examining the serologic phenotype of the LAK precursors in tumor-bearing hosts, we found that they lacked AGM1, which suggested that these LAK precursors were in an "activated" state. These cells were still Thy1-, and were thus different from fully activated LAK effectors which were Thy1+ cells, indicating that the full differentiation of LAK cells in vivo was arrested in the tumor-bearing hosts. We also found that the presence of small amounts of X-irradiated tumor cells prevented the generation of AK cells. These findings suggest that, in the tumor-bearing hosts, the presence of tumor cells triggers the activation of AK precursors; however, the same tumor cells may also be immunosuppressive, which prevents the full differentiation of AK precursors into AK effectors.

Expression and function of asialo GM1 in alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

In the present study we examined asialo GM1 (AsGM1) expression and its function in alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We consistently found that the cytotoxic activity of bulk culture-derived allo-CTL was susceptible to the treatment of anti-AsGM1 (alpha AsGM1) plus complement. To further determine whether the expression of AsGM1 was maintained in CTL, we examined cloned T cells. The expression of AsGM1 in the T cell clones was assessed by their susceptibility to lysis by alpha AsGM1 plus complement and the reduction or abrogation of their cytotoxic activity by this treatment. It was found that, with one exception, all Lyt-2+, Thy-1+ CTL clones were AsGM1+ (seven out of eight), independent of their class specificity (class I or class II). In contrast, all Thy-1+, L3T4+ CTL (2) or helper T cell (4) clones AsGM1-. These findings suggested that there was a close association between the expression of AsGM1 and the expression of Lyt-2. The cytotoxic reaction of the anti-class I MHC CTL clones that expressed AsGM1 was blocked by alpha AsGM1 or alpha Lyt-2 antibody. The Lyt-2+, AsGM1+ anti-class II MHC CTL clone-mediated lysis was inhibited by alpha AsGM1. Addition of AsGM1 in micelle form (AsGM1-M) alone also blocked the cytotoxic reactions. Addition of other structurally similar but antigenically different glycolipids or other non-AsGM1-containing liposome preparations did not affect CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, adding both alpha AsGM1 and AsGM1-M together at proper doses inhibited the blocking effect (deblocking) of either alone, and other structurally similar glycolipids did not inhibit the blocking. The deblocking was specific, since AsGM1-M did not affect the blocking by alpha Lyt-2. These findings indicate that not only is AsGM1 expressed in a majority of Lyt-2+ CTL clones, but it may also be involved in the CTL- target interaction to mediate lytic reaction.

Regulation of the cytotoxic activity of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes by helper cells and lymphokines.

The cytotoxic activity of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was maintained and augmented by transferring cells from a 5-day mixed lymphocyte culture MLC into a host culture (HC) containing indomethacin, freshly explanted normal spleen cells, and peritoneal cells which were syngeneic to the MLC cells. The MLC cells used in the transfer experiments were generated by culturing untreated H-2b splenic responders with irradiated H-2d stimulators, or were generated by culturing Lyt-2-depleted H-2b splenic responders with irradiated H-2d stimulators. The allo-CTL were found to be derived from the donor MLC (first culture) when unfractionated MLC cells were transferred into a host (second) culture and incubated for 5 days. In contrast, the allo-CTL were derived from host culture cells when Lyt-2-depleted MLC cells were transferred and the combined cultures incubated for 5 days. In the former case, the augmentation of MLC-derived cytotoxicity did not result from nonspecific expansion of all donor T cells; instead it was mediated by lymphokine(s), distinct from IL-2, produced by helper T cells generated in host culture, which appeared to selectively expand the antigen-specific CTL or to increase the cytotoxic activity of these CTL. The helper T cells were Thy-1+, L3T4+, and Lyt-2-. These findings indicate that antigen-nonspecific help was provided by helper cells or helper factors (lymphokines) generated in the host culture, which maintained and augmented the cytotoxic activity of the fully generated allo-CTL. This helper effect was also seen in the induction of primary allo-CTL responses which could be generated with fewer stimulating cells and with a stronger cytotoxic response at different R/S ratios tested. The generation of allo-CTL in second culture following transfer of Lyt-2-depleted MLC cells to host cultures appears to have involved antigen carryover from the MLC; however, antigen carryover alone was not sufficient. It appears that in the absence of Lyt-2+ suppressor T cells, antigen-specific help might be generated in donor cultures (Lyt-2-depleted MLC) which promoted or recruited the generation of antigen-specific CTL in host culture.

Production of T cell differentiation factor in syngeneic lymphocyte macrophage culture for cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation.

This study demonstrated that T cell differentiation factor (TCDF) was produced in syngeneic lymphocyte-macrophage cultures. Conditioned medium containing TCDF and interleukin 2 (IL 2) induced the differentiation of leukoagglutinin (LA)-activated cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) into cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effectors. The production of TCDF and IL 2 peaked at day 4 to 5 in cultures containing normal spleen cells, syngeneic peritoneal macrophages, and indomethacin. Macrophages and T cells with Thy-1+, L3T4+, and Lyt-2- phenotype were needed for TCDF production. There was no requirement for xenogeneic serum in the culture medium; thus, TCDF could be produced in a syngeneic system. Recognition of self Ia molecules appeared to be essential for TCDF production, which was completely abolished by the addition of monoclonal anti-Ia antibody. In our experiments, removal of IL 2 from conditioned medium containing TCDF abolished its ability to generate LA-activated CTL. However, the cytotoxic response could be restored by the addition of a small amount (5 U/ml) of purified human recombinant IL 2 (HRIL 2), which alone was unable to generate LA-activated CTL at this dose. The generation of LA-activated CTL by high dose HRIL 2 (greater than 50 U/ml) was likely due to the endogenous production of TCDF. The bulk of TCDF could be separated from IL 2 by gel filtration in a Sephadex G-100 column. The peak of TCDF activity was concentrated at a m.w. of 16K dalton, and there was very little IL 2 activity in these fractions. When added alone to the LA-activated lymphocyte cultures, these active fractions were unable to induce CTL; supplementation of exogenous IL 2 was needed to restore the cytotoxic responses. Our findings indicate that both IL 2 and TCDF, which are needed in CTL generation. are produced in syngeneic cultures in the absence of antigenic or mitogenic stimulation.

Lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity: characterization of effectors, precursors, and regulatory ancillary cells.

In the present study, we have characterized the effectors, precursors, and regulatory ancillary cells involved in the in vitro generation of lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity. It was first shown that at least two lymphokines are needed for the generation of lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity. They are interleukin 2 and a novel lymphokine, the cytotoxic cell differentiation factor (CCDF). CCDF was produced primarily by the macrophages. The effectors of the lymphokine-induced cytotoxic cells thus generated selectively killed tumor targets of different etiological origins. The serological phenotype of lymphokine-induced cytotoxic cell effectors were found to be Thy 1+, Lyt 2-, and AGM1-; therefore, they were neither classic natural killer (NK) cells nor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Extensive characterization of the precursors by sequential column separation and antibody lysis and also by limiting dilution analysis showed that they were AGM1+ and Lyt 2-; thus they were NK-like cells. In addition to NK-like cells being identified as the precursors, two other cell compartments were identified as ancillary cells which regulate the lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity. They were the macrophages and T-cells. Macrophages were needed to produce CCDF and to activate the Lyt 1+ helper T-cells to produce interleukin 2. The Lyt 2+ T-cells play a negative role in the regulation of the lymphokine-induced cytotoxic cell response. The process of lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity thus involves a complex interaction between at least two lymphokines (interleukin 2 and CCDF) and three cell compartments, namely, NK-like cells, macrophages, and T-cells of Lyt 1+ and Lyt 2+ phenotypes.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of lymphokine-induced cytotoxic cells.

The present study demonstrates that LICC possess both in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. The LICC were generated by culturing normal spleen cells with syngeneic peritoneal cells and indomethacin, or with a conditioned medium containing IL 2 with or without a putative new lymphokine, the CCDF. The LICC thus generated selectively killed the lymphoid or solid tumor targets of different H-2 haplotypes and of different etiological origins. The precursors of LICC were probably NK-like cells. The effectors were neither classical NK nor classical cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The LICC were very effective in preventing growth of both lymphoid and solid tumors in vivo, and Thy I+ cells were essential for the anti-tumor effect. The ability to generate LICC was preserved in the tumor-bearing hosts until the terminal stage of tumor growth, when the generation of suppressor T-cells interfered with LICC induction. LICC seem to play an important role in defense against non-immunogenic tumors.

Lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity: requirement of two lymphokines for the induction of optimal cytotoxic response.

Lymphokines induce the generation of cytotoxic cells (LICC) in the absence of antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. In the present study, we have demonstrated that at least two lymphokines are involved. They are interleukin 2-conditioned medium (CM-IL 2), which was produced by W/Fu rat spleen cells cultured with concanavalin A-conjugated Sepharose beads, and cytotoxic cell differentiation factor-conditioned medium (CM-CCDF), which was produced primarily by the unstimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. It was first established that CCDF synergized with IL 2 to induce the generation of LICC in normal spleen cells, and that this process was specifically blocked by the rat anti-IL 2 receptor monoclonal antibody. The maximal synergistic effect was obtained by using 10% CM-CCDF (v/v) and 0.1 to 0.3 U/ml of CM-IL 2. Higher doses of IL 2 (3 to 10 U/ml) reduced the cytotoxic response. The effectors of LICC were Thy-1+, Lyt-2- and AGM1-; therefore, they were neither classic CTL nor NK cells. The precursors were AGM1+, Lyt-2- cells that were consistent of being NK-like cells. When examining the temporal relationship between CCDF and IL 2, we found that 4 hr preincubation of the responders with IL 2 was sufficient to activate the cytotoxic precursor cells. CCDF was needed later for the differentiation of the activated precursors into cytotoxic effectors. In contrast, preincubation of the responders with CCDF, followed by additional incubation with IL 2, failed to induce any cytotoxic response. These results established that lymphokine-induced cytotoxicity can be separated into two phases. In the activation phase, IL 2 provides the first signal to activate the cytotoxic precursors, with the process being completed in 4 hr. In the differentiation phase, CCDF provides the second signal to induce the differentiation of the IL 2-activated precursors into cytotoxic effectors, with this process requiring 48 hr to complete. The sequential presence of these lymphokines at an appropriate time during the activation and differentiation phases is critical for the generation of LICC response.