Generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes after reovirus infection: role of S1 gene.

Abstract

Cytotoxic T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes (CTL) can be generated if spleen cells from reovirus-infected mice are stimulated in vitro with syngeneic reovirus-infected [mouse fibroblast L] cells. These cytolytic effector cells demonstrate: serotype specificity (i.e., maximal cytolytic activity is observed on target cells infected with the serotype used to induce the CTL) and H-2 restriction. The S1 gene was the predominant viral gene determining the specificity of the cytotoxic T cells. This genome segment was previously demonstrated to encode the viral hemagglutinin and determines reovirus cell tropism in the nervous system.