Generation of effector cells from T cell subsets III. Synergy between Lyt‐1 and Lyt‐123/23 lymphocytes in the generation of H‐2‐restricted and alloreactive cytotoxid T cells

Abstract

Lyt‐123/23 and Lyt‐1 T cell subsets, positively selected by separation on the fluorescence‐activated cell sorter, were tested in vitro for their role in the generation of H‐2‐restricted and alloreactive cytotoxic T cells. It is shown that in the proliferation assay, both T cell subsets responded equally well to H‐2 and non‐H‐2 antigens (H‐Y), respectively. In contrast, none of the selected Lyt subsets, but only the mixed population containing Lyt‐1 and Lyt‐123/23 lymphocytes gave rise to both H‐2‐restricted (anti‐H‐Y, anti‐trinitrophenyl) and alloreactive (anti‐H‐2) cytotoxic lymphocytes. The data imply an essential role of Lyt‐1 cells as inducers or helpers in the generation of all cytotoxic lymphocytes from their precursors in the Lyt‐123/23 pool.