A murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone from the intestinal mucosa that is antigen specific for proliferation and displays broadly reactive inducible cytotoxic activity.

Thy-1+, Lyt-1-,2+, asialo GM1+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones have been isolated from the intestinal mucosa of mice primed with alloantigens. Two different types of cytotoxic clones have been obtained. The first type is functionally similar to most splenic and lymph node-derived CTL clones in that they are strictly antigen specific with respect to proliferation and cytolytic activity. The second type of CTL clone has several unique characteristics. Although these clones are also antigen specific with regard to proliferation, they are not cytolytic under standard growth conditions in medium containing 4% rat concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernatant. After culture for 4 days in the presence of high concentrations of interleukin 2, cells become activated and exhibit broad lytic potential. Moreover, during the activation process, these CTL begin to express a murine T cell surface antigen, CT-1, which is associated with activated cytotoxic cells. The findings reported in this report should now allow us to precisely define, both phenotypically and functionally, specific lymphocyte populations that make up the gut-associated lymphoid tissues. These data also describe a new type of effector CTL that differs from other cytotoxic cells reported to date, because it is antigen dependent for proliferation, but requires signals mediated by lymphokines for lytic activation.