Allogeneic responses of human fetal (22- to 25-week) peripheral blood lymphocytes: preferential recruitment of cytotoxic effector cells with both CTL activity and NK-like function.

In the present study, we have characterized human cytotoxic effector lymphocytes generated following in vitro immunization of normal fetal (22- to 25-week) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (FPBMC) by an allogeneic Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line termed LAZ388. Primary stimulations led to strong FPBMC proliferation. However, subsequent addition of LAZ388 cells to the cultures on Day 8 did not trigger conventional secondary responses. In fact, further proliferation of activated FPBMC required the addition of exogeneous interleukin 2. Cytotoxic activity generated in the mixed-lymphocyte reactions was assayed against LAZ388 immunizing cells as well as against the highly susceptible natural killer (NK) target cell line K562. Eight days after stimulation by LAZ388, there was no specific lysis and a moderate NK-like activity. However, following second and subsequent stimulations a strong killing was measured against both LAZ388 and K562 cells. Blocking experiments performed with relevant monoclonal antibodies suggested that cytotoxicity against immunizing cells was conventionally directed at MHC gene products. Effector cells were further studied using cloning procedures; it was found that all cloned cell lines able to kill LAZ388 cells were also strongly active against K562. Both types of cytotoxic function appeared to be mediated via surface receptors physically or at least functionally associated with T3 proteins.