Induction of Cell‐Mediated Cytotoxic Self Responses by Epidermal Cells Modified with a Haptenic Sulphydryl Reagent

Murine epidermal cells (EC) act as stimulator cells in the generation of ullogeneic cyto‐toxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in cell‐mediated lympholysis (CML) and are suitable targets for allogeneic and hapten‐self CTL. To analyse the role of EC in the generation of and recognition by ami‐self CTL, syngeneic hapten‐modified murine EC were used as in vivo and in vitro stimulating populations and as target cells in a hapten‐self CML system. Epidermal cells were modified with the sulphydryl‐reactive haptenic reagent N‐iodoacetyl‐N′‐(5‐sulphonic‐l‐naphthyl)ethylenediamine (I‐AED). C3H.SW (H‐2 b ) AED‐self CTL responses were generated by stimulation with syngeneic AED‐modified EC and were readily demonstrated when tested on syngeneic hapten‐modified EC. These CML responses were hapten‐specific and H‐2‐restricted. No substantial difference was detected in the ability of AED‐modified EC and spleen cells (SC) to stimulate the generation of secondary AED‐self CTL. Cold target inhibition experiments with hapten‐modified EC and SC blockers did not reveal tissue‐specific recognition of hapten‐modified EC or SC targets by AED‐self CTL. These findings demonstrate that hapten‐modified EC, when used for priming in vivo and subsequently for in vitro sensitization, can induce hapten‐specific self CTL that are reactive against syngeneic hapten‐modified EC.