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Subpopulation of T Cells Sensitive to Natural Thymocytotoxic Autoantibody (NTA) of New Zealand Mice: I. Distinct Cytotoxic Sensitivity of Functional T Cell Subsets to NTA and Anti‐Thy‐1 Antibodies
Author(s) -
Nagata Norikazu,
Suda Kinya,
Maruyama Naoki,
Koike Takao,
Shirai Toshikazu
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1982.tb00191.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , biology , autoantibody , antibody , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , in vitro , genetics
Abstract NZB mice produce a natural thymocytotoxic autoantibody (NTA) capable of specifically injuring thymocytes and T cells. NTA‐reactive antigen (NTA‐A) shows a different density distribution among T cells, and partial killing with NTA and complement can eliminate T cells bearing NTA‐A in high density. Thy‐1 antigen is similar to NTA‐A in this respect. To determine the effects of NTA and anti‐Thy‐1 on distinct functional subsets of T cells, Con A‐induced suppressor T cell (Con A‐Ts) activity against the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), responding T cell (T MLR ) activity in the allogeneic MLR, and Con A‐induced cytotoxic T cell (Con A‐Tc) activity were examined simultaneously in BALB/c spleen cells before and after partial elimination of NTA‐ and anti‐Thy‐1‐sensitive T cells. Treatment with NTA and complement resulted in a marked reduction in Con A‐Ts activity, a significant increase in T MLR activity and a slight and inconstant decrease in Con A‐Tc activity. Since Con A‐generated Ts were much less sensitive to NTA, the NTA‐sensitive T cells involved in Con A‐Ts activity appear to be precursors or promoters of the Con A‐Ts. In contrast, the precursors of Con A‐Tc seem to be relatively resistant to NTA. The increase in T MLR activity caused by NTA suggests the possibility that NTA is less cytotoxic for T MLR and cytotoxic for some suppressor T cells in allogeneic MLR. The monoclonal anti‐Thy‐1 antibody showed no such preferential cytotoxic effects on the three T cell functions. The NTA‐sensitive T cells, in contrast to anti‐Thy‐1‐sensitive T cells, were reduced gradually during Con A stimulation. All these findings indicate that NTA‐A not only differs from Thy‐1 antigen but that it appears to be a unique T cell antigen.