Relationship between surface H-2 concentration, size of different target cells, and lysis by cytotoxic T cells

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 525 - 532
• Main Authors: King, N.J.C., Mullbacher, A., Blanden, R.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.04.1986; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Cycle; cell size; cell surface; Chromium Radioisotopes; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; H-2 Antigens - analysis; histocompatibility antigen H-2; Immunobiology; lymphocytes T; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Organs and cells involved in the immune response; Spleen - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Immune response; Major histocompatibility system; Rodentia; Cytotoxicity; Cellular immunity; H-2-System; Antigen; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Target cell; T»-Lymphocyte; Haplotype
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(86)90311-4

We have examined the parameters of target cell cross-sectional area and surface H-2 concentration in relation to their susceptibility to cytotoxic T-cell-mediated lysis, using a series of commonly used murine target cells of the H-2 k haplotype. We used a sensitive immunoferritin labeling technique and electron microscopy to estimate relative cell diameter and H-2 concentration combined with standard 51Cr-release assays for cytotoxicity. We found that susceptibility to cytotoxic T-cell lysis was not related consistently to either factor alone, but was related to a combination of the two, such that above a certain value for the product of the two factors, no further increase in cytotoxic T-cell efficiency was seen. The information presented here should be of value to workers seeking to select a target cell type that will maximize the sensitivity of 51Cr-release-based assays for the detection of cytotoxic T cells.