Induction of TNP-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte memory in vivo in the absence of T helper cell activity.

The question of whether TH cells are required for the priming of CTL precursors (CTLp) in vivo was studied by using Txbm mice (Thymectomized, irradiated, and stem cell-reconstituted mice). In these mice, TNP-specific CTL could be induced in vitro with TNP-coupled spleen cells only if the cultures were supplemented with an IL 2-containing supernatant (ConAsup). In contrast to normal mice, TNP-specific Lyt-2-TH cells could not be induced by skin painting with trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) (as tested by the ability to help CTL formation from thymocyte or normal spleen precursors). These data confirm previous findings that Txbm mice possess CTLp but that their TH compartment is deficient. TNCB skin painting had, however, a clear priming effect on the CTLp population: spleen cells from TNCB-painted mice could give rise to specific CTL with a lower amount of ConAsup than spleen cells from unprimed mice. In addition to this, priming changed the CTLp so that stimulation with lightly coupled cells (0.1 mM trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid [TNBS] instead of 10 mM TNBS) became effective. These changes took place without a significant increase in the frequency of TNP-specific CTL precursors. The data obtained are consistent with the concept that at least with some antigens, CTLp proliferation (clonal expansion), which is probably caused by activated TH cells, is not required for the induction of immunologic memory in vivo.