The development and specificity of cytotoxic cells in cattle immunized with autologous or allogeneic Theileria annulata-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Two groups of animals were immunized with either 10(6) autologous or 10(6) allogeneic Theileria annulata-infected lymphoblastoid cells cultured in vitro. The development and specificity of cytotoxic cells generated in vivo were measured throughout immunization and challenge using a panel of target cells that were either Theileria-infected or uninfected blast cells of known bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA) specificities. After inoculation of the cell lines the two groups showed distinct differences in both their clinical responses and the target specificity of the cytotoxic cells detected. The allogeneic T. annulata cell line recipients showed a very mild clinical response, and on day 9 after inoculation a strong cytotoxic response was detected. The response appeared to be directed against the allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens of the inoculated cell line in some form of graft rejection response. By day 23 the predominant cytotoxic response was directed against the recipient animals' own cells infected with the parasite. In contrast, the autologous T. annulata cell line recipients showed very severe clinical reactions, and low levels of cytotoxicity were detected. The cytotoxicity was directed against parasite-infected targets but did not appear to be MHC restricted until day 20. Both groups were immune to a heterologous sporozoite challenge that proved lethal to two susceptible control animals, and on day 10 after challenge a peak of cytotoxicity was detected which was directed against the autologous infected target cell. This would suggest that this cytotoxic response was MHC restricted and was also cross-reactive between the heterologous parasite stocks used.