The Cytotoxic Response to Murine Cytomegalovirus. II. In vitro Requirements for Generation of Cytotoxic T Cells

Abstract

A cytotoxic response to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) was obtained by the culture of lymph node cells from mice inoculated with MCMV into both hind footpads 7 days previously. The cytotoxicity was mediated by Thy1.2⁺, Lyt2⁺, H-2-restricted effector cells and was virus-specific. Investigation of the in vitro conditions established that T cell proliferation was necessary for optimal generation of cytotoxicity, that proliferation was dependent upon Thy1.2⁺, Lyt2⁺ cell populations and that supernatants from concanavalin A-activated spleen cells enhanced the levels of cytotoxicity obtained.