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F W Fitch

Publications and source records attributed to F W Fitch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A murine CD4-, CD8- T cell receptor-gamma delta T lymphocyte clone specific for herpes simplex virus glycoprotein I.

The role of TCR-gamma delta T lymphocytes in immune responses is currently not well understood. TCR-gamma delta cells have a limited repertoire suggesting that TCR-gamma delta T a limited number of evolutionarily conserved Ag such as nonpolymorphic MHC and heat shock proteins. TCR-gamma delta T lymphocytes appear in enhanced numbers in skin lesions produced by Mycobacterium leprae and in the synovial fluid of joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis, raising the possibility that this subset of T lymphocytes may play a role in control of infectious processes and in autoimmune diseases. We report the identification of a TCR-gamma delta T cell clone isolated from a HSV-infected mouse that recognizes glycoprotein I of HSV type 1. Clone recognition of glycoprotein I does not appear to require the expression of MHC class I or class II gene products. These data suggest that TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes may play an important role in the immune response to viral infections.

Animals

Cytolytic T lymphocytes: an overview of their characteristics.

Cloned T cells have been useful for assessing the lytic potential of distinct T cell subsets and for determining the relative contribution of different effector mechanism involved in the lytic process. Alloreactive CD8+ murine T cell clones and cloned murine CD4+ TH1 and TH2 T cells reactive with nominal antigen (ovalbumin) lysed nucleated target cells bearing antigen or coated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in a short term 51Cr-release assay. These clones were also evaluated for their ability to lyse efficiently sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) target cells coated with anti-CD3 mAb by a mechanism (presumably involving membrane damage) that does not involve nuclear degradation. Three patterns of lysis were observed: CD8+ and some CD4+ TH2 effector cells lysed efficiently nucleated target cells and anucleated SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. However, CD4+ TH1 (and a few TH2) T cells which lysed nucleated target cells bearing antigen or coated with anti-CD3 mAb did not lyse efficiently the SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. One CD4 bearing TH2 cell failed to lyse efficiently either nucleated target cells or anucleated SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. These results indicate that both TH1 and TH2 clones have lytic capabilities. Furthermore, they suggest that some but not all TH2 murine T cell clones have lytic characteristics similar to those of conventional CD8+ CTL. However, it is not certain how these patterns of lysis of target cells in vitro relates to the capacity of CTL to lyse such target cells in vivo.

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Some cloned murine CD4+ T cells recognize H-2Ld class I MHC determinants directly. Other cloned CD4+ T cells recognize H-2Ld class I MHC determinants in the context of class II MHC molecules.

Murine T lymphocytes recognize nominal Ag presented by class I or class II MHC molecules. Most CD8+ T cells recognize Ag presented in the context of class I molecules, whereas most CD4+ cells recognize Ag associated with class II molecules. However, it has been shown that a proportion of T cells recognizing class I alloantigens express CD4 surface molecules. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells are sufficient for the rejection of H-2Kbm10 and H-2Kbm11 class I disparate skin grafts. It has been suggested that the CD4 component of an anti-class I response can be ascribed to T cells recognizing class I determinants in the context of class II MHC products. To examine the specificity and effector functions of class I-specific HTL, CD4+ T cells were stimulated with APC that differed from them at a class I locus. Specifically, a MLC was prepared involving an allogeneic difference only at the Ld region. CD4+ clones were derived by limiting dilution of bulk MLC cells. Two clones have been studied in detail. The CD4+ clone 46.2 produced IL-2, IL-3, and IFN-gamma when stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb, whereas the CD4+ clone 93.1 secreted IL-4 in addition to IL-2, IL-3, and IFN-gamma. Cloned 46.2 cells recognized H-2Ld directly, whereas recognition of Ld by 93.1 apparently was restricted by class II MHC molecules. Furthermore, cytolysis by both clones 46.2 and 93.1 was inhibited by the anti-CD4 mAb GK1.5. These results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells can respond to a class I difference and that a proportion of CD4+ T cells can recognize class I MHC determinants directly as well as in the context of class II MHC molecules.

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Mechanisms of lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones. Lytic activity and gene expression in cloned antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Cloned murine Th having properties of either Th1 or Th2 cells as well as CD8+ CTL were tested for the capacity to lyse: 1) nucleated target cells bearing Ag or coated with anti-CD3 mAb, or 2) SRBC target cells coated with anti-CD3 mAb in a short term 51Cr-release assay. The lysis of SRBC occurs by a mechanism that does not involve nuclear degradation but presumably does involve membrane damage. Three patterns were observed: CTL and some Th2 cells lysed efficiently nucleated target cells and SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Th1 and some Th2 T cells lysed nucleated target cells but did not lyse efficiently the SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Finally, some Th2 cells failed to lyse efficiently either nucleated or SRBC targets. We also examined these clones for their expression of N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin thiobenzyl esterase activity, and for the expression of perforin or CTLA-1 (granzyme B) mRNA. Total N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin thiobenzyl esterase activity expressed by CTL and Th2 clones tended to be higher than that of Th1 cells. Perforin mRNA and CTLA-1 mRNA were readily detectable in CTL and some Th2 clones. Expression of perforin and CLTA-1 mRNA correlated well with the capacity of these clones to lyse SRBC coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Our results show that some but not all Th2 clones have lytic characteristics similar to those of CD8+ CTL. Two mechanisms appear to contribute to their lytic process, one mechanism of lysis involves membrane damage that correlates with the expression of perforin mRNA; a second mechanism involves the induction of DNA degradation in the target cells. In contrast, some CD4+ effector cells appear to lack the capacity to lyse efficiently via the mechanism involving membrane damage and may only have the lytic activity associated with the capacity to induce DNA degradation.

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Murine Th1 and Th2 clones proliferate optimally in response to distinct antigen-presenting cell populations.

We recently have devised a method for the derivation of OVA-specific Th1 and Th2 clones from the same primed lymph node cell preparation. Using a panel of such cells, we have examined the ability of distinct APC populations to stimulate proliferation of Th1 and Th2 clones. Both subsets proliferated well in response to OVA in the presence of whole spleen cells. However, purified B cells stimulated optimal proliferation of Th2 clones, whereas adherent cells stimulated optimal proliferation of Th1 clones. The proliferative response of Th2 cells stimulated with spleen cells irradiated with 3300 rad was dramatically less than that observed in response to spleen cells treated with 1000 rad; Th1 clones responded similarly to spleen cells exposed to either irradiation dose. Differential activation of Th1 and Th2 clones did not correlate with MHC-restricting element, or susceptibility to inhibition by mAb directed against CD4 or LFA-1. Lymphokine production by each subset still occurred under conditions of suboptimal proliferation, suggesting that the appropriate Ag processing and presentation events had transpired. The same pattern of response was observed using a specific OVA peptide that does not require processing, suggesting that differential responsiveness of Th1 and Th2 clones to different APC populations is not a result of defective Ag processing. Neither rIL-1 nor rIL-6 restored optimal proliferation of either subset. Our results suggest that unique cofactors are necessary for the optimal proliferation of Th1 and Th2 clones, and that these cofactors are produced by specialized APC populations.

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Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D is recognized as antigen by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from infected mice. Characterization of T cell clones.

Several previous reports have described the surprising inability to detect murine CTL specific for glycoprotein D (gD), one of the important protective immunogens of HSV. Using slight variations of published procedures, we were able to show that the immune response to HSV in infected mice includes the generation of CTL specific for gD. C3H/OuJ (H-2k) mice were infected by injection in the hind footpads with purified HSV-1. Lymphocytes from draining lymph nodes were then isolated and shown to proliferate in response to, and to kill, transformed fibroblasts (H-2k) expressing HSV-1 gD. Two gD-specific T cell clones were isolated. One clone, designated CGD1, was shwon to be CD8+. This clone recognizes HSV-1 gD, but not HSV-2 gD, in the context of class I MHC molecules and kills the appropriate MHC-matched fibroblasts expressing HSV-1 gD. Unusual features of this cytolytic clone include augmentation by IL-4 of proliferative responses to Ag, inhibition of its lytic activity by a mAb specific for Thy-1 and recognition of infected fibroblasts in preference to infected lymphoblasts. The other clone, designated CGD3, was shown to be CD4+. This clone recognizes both HSV-1 gD and HSV-2 gD in the context of class II MHC molecules and has cytolytic potential.

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CD4+ murine T cell clones that express high levels of immunoglobulin binding belong to the interleukin 4-producing T helper cell type 2 subset.

A panel of 20 murine CD4+ clones was examined for the presence of surface membrane receptors for IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE, and IgG. High level expression of multiple Fc receptors (FcRs) was found on all Th2 clones. FcR expression was low or undetected on the Th1 clones. The preferential expression of FcR on activated Th2 cells suggests potential mechanisms for immunoregulatory interactions with B cells.

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Evidence implicating utilization of different T cell receptor-associated signaling pathways by TH1 and TH2 clones.

We have reported recently that high concentrations of anti-CD3 mAb inhibited IL-2-dependent proliferation of TH1 but not TH2 clones. The selective inhibitory effect on TH1 clones suggested that the two helper T lymphocyte subsets might utilize different TCR-associated signal transduction mechanisms. In the present study, we demonstrate that this distinction was not due to a gross difference in the level of TCR expression by TH1 and TH2 clones. Inhibition of TH1 proliferation by anti-CD3 mAb appeared to depend on calcium for maximal effect, suggesting that a substantial elevation of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) might not occur after ligation of the TCR complex of TH2 clones. Calcium ionophore inhibited IL-2-dependent proliferation of both subsets, suggesting that receptor/ligand systems which stimulate elevated [Ca2+]i would be expected to inhibit proliferation. Although elevated [Ca2+]i and generation of inositol phosphates were readily detected in TH1 clones, these second messengers were not detected following stimulation of TH2 clones via the TCR complex. In addition, lymphokine production by TH1 clones was more sensitive to inhibition by cholera toxin, 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, and cyclosporin A than was lymphokine production by TH2 clones. Collectively, these results suggest that TH1 and TH2 clones utilize distinct TCR-associated signal transduction mechanisms for lymphokine gene expression. The difference in signaling mechanisms suggests a potential pharmacologic target for intervention in situations where inappropriate activation of TH1 or TH2 cells occurs in vivo.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

Anti-proliferative effect of IFN-gamma in immune regulation. IV. Murine CTL clones produce IL-3 and GM-CSF, the activity of which is masked by the inhibitory action of secreted IFN-gamma.

We have demonstrated recently that rIFN-gamma inhibits the proliferation of murine bone marrow cells stimulated with rIL-3 or recombinant granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF. In light of this finding, three murine CD8+ CTL clones whose supernatants had been shown previously not to contain detectable levels of CSF activity but which contained a relatively high level of IFN-gamma were reassessed for their ability to secrete IL-3 and GM-CSF. Supernatants from CTL clones activated with anti-CD3 mAb failed to stimulate the IL-3-dependent cell line FDCP1. However, these supernatants were indeed able to stimulate the proliferation of FDCP1 cells if anti-IFN-gamma mAb was present. This stimulatory activity was specifically neutralized by anti-IL-3 mAb. Supernatants from two of the three clones stimulated the proliferation of a GM-CSF-responsive HT-2 cell line, and this activity was neutralized by anti-GM-CSF antibody. The otherwise modest ability of CTL supernatants to stimulate the proliferation of fresh bone marrow cells was augmented considerably in the presence of anti-IFN-gamma mAb, and this activity was appropriately blocked by anti-IL-3 and anti-GM-CSF antibodies. mRNA for IL-3 and GM-CSF, as well as for IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, was detected in cells that secreted those lymphokines, and the time course of appearance of each mRNA correlated with secretion of the appropriate lymphokine activity. However, the time course of mRNA accumulation for each lymphokine was distinct, the order of expression of these genes apparently being TNF-alpha, then IFN-gamma and GM-CSF, and finally IL-3. Our results emphasize that potential interactions among lymphokines must be considered when interpreting data obtained from lymphokine bioassays and suggest an immunoregulatory role for CTL through the secretion of several of the same lymphokines produced by HTL.

Animals

Expression of Ly-6C by T lymphocytes of NOD mice after CD3-complex stimulation. Identification of activated cells during insulitis of prediabetic mice.

Ly-6C is a differentiation antigen that distinguishes T-lymphocyte subsets. In concordance with previous results, splenocytes from NOD mice do not express the epitope recognized by anti-Ly-6C monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), including MoAb HK1.4 in this study, and cannot be stimulated to proliferate in response to HK1.4. However, when splenocytes from NOD mice were stimulated in vitro with the anti-CD3 MoAb 145-2C11, T lymphocytes expressing Ly-6C were detected after 48 h of stimulation, with as many as 25% of lymphocytes expressing this antigen with prolonged passage in culture. Most of the cells expressing Ly-6C were Thy-1.2+, CD4+, and CD8- and proliferated after stimulation with HK1.4. To further understand the failure of NOD splenocytes to express Ly-6C, freshly isolated cells were stimulated with alpha/beta-interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) and IFN-gamma. Although these lymphokines induced expression of Ly-6A and Ly-6C in splenocytes from C57BL/6J mice and Ly-6A in NOD cells, Ly-6C was not induced on NOD cells. Because Ly-6C expression on splenocytes was a marker of activation via the CD3 T-lymphocyte receptor complex, we also examined expression of Ly-6C on T lymphocytes within islets showing insulitis in vivo. Lymphocytes that were Ly-6C+ were identified within islets on histological sections of pancreas, whereas Ly-6C+ cells in the spleen from the same mouse could not be detected. Our findings imply functional abnormality in expression of Ly-6C in NOD mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Murine hepatic accessory cells support the proliferation of Th1 but not Th2 helper T lymphocyte clones.

The liver is the major site of clearance and degradation of foreign antigens from the portal circulation. Despite the presence of hepatic accessory cells, antibody responses to orally administered antigens are uncommon. To ascertain if hepatic accessory cells are incapable of stimulating specific subsets of T lymphocytes, freshly isolated hepatic nonparenchymal and splenic cells were cultured with a panel of antigen-specific, H-2-restricted Th1 and Th2 HTL clones. Whereas spleen cells stimulated the proliferation of both Th1 and Th2 clones, hepatic nonparenchymal cells (NPC) stimulated the proliferation of only Th1 and not Th2 clones. Adding rIL-1, rIL-6, and rIL-7, alone or in combination, to the cultures did not result in proliferation of the Th2 clones. Despite the absence of Th2 proliferation, NPC were able to stimulate the secretion of IL-3 and IL-4 by Th2 clones in the presence of antigen. Moreover, adding hepatic NPC did not inhibit spleen cells from stimulating Th2 clones in the presence of antigen. Thus, the inability of liver cells to stimulate the proliferation of Th2 helper T lymphocytes appears to be secondary to an absence of either an unknown accessory cell cofactor or an accessory cell that preferentially presents antigen to Th2 cells. The selective activation of Th1 and not Th2 cells by liver accessory cells may result in suppression of antibody responses to orally administered antigens.

Animals

Pretreatment of cloned helper T lymphocytes with IL-2 induces unresponsiveness to antigen and concanavalin A, associated with decreased inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol production.

IL-2 pretreatment of cloned Th lymphocytes has been demonstrated to render these cells unresponsive to subsequent stimulation through the TCR. These cells remain unresponsive for up to 7 days after removal from IL-2. Cells rendered unresponsive to Ag by pretreatment with IL-2 also demonstrated reduced increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) after stimulation, hence this unresponsiveness is believed to result from absence of sufficient [Ca2+]i for activation of lymphokine genes. We have confirmed these observations, and demonstrate that only that portion of the [Ca2+]i increase derived from extracellular sources is inhibited in IL-2 pretreated cells. Further, inositol degradation and diacylglycerol production after stimulation are observed to be markedly reduced in cells rendered unresponsive by IL-2 pretreatment, suggesting that signal transduction leading to cleavage of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate after Ag receptor engagement is incomplete in these cells. However, treatment of IL-2 pretreated cells with AlF4- results in both production of inositol phosphates as well as increased intracellular calcium, suggesting that phospholipase C remains active in these cells. It appears that chronic IL-2 exposure regulates Th activation by inhibiting the signal transduction which follows engagement of the TCR.

Aluminum

Antiproliferative effect of IFN-gamma in immune regulation. III. Differential selection of TH1 and TH2 murine helper T lymphocyte clones using recombinant IL-2 and recombinant IFN-gamma.

Supernatants collected after primary or secondary stimulation of spleen cells contain different arrays of lymphokines. Primary supernatants from spleen cells stimulated with Con A or allogeneic spleen cells (MLC-SF) contain IL-2 but little IL-4 or IGN-gamma; in contrast, secondary MLC-SF contains IL-2 as well as substantial IL-4 and IFN-gamma. Our laboratory previously had always used secondary MLC-SF for cloning T cells, and had routinely obtained TH1 helper T lymphocyte clones. In the present study, when primary Con A-SF was used as source of growth factors, TH2 and not TH1 clones were preferentially derived. Considering the possibility that IFN-gamma may be one important factor in determining whether TH1 or TH2 clones are preferentially obtained, clone derivation was then performed either in the presence of rIL-2 or rIL-2 plus rIFN-gamma. The majority of clones derived using rIL-2 alone were TH2 cells, whereas the majority of clones derived using rIL-2 plus rIFN-gamma were TH1 cells. Using either procedure, some clones were obtained that produced IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma. These data are consistent with our previous observations that IFN-gamma inhibits the proliferation of TH2 but not TH1 clones, and suggest that the presence of IFN-gamma during an immune response would result in the preferential expansion of helper T lymphocytes of the TH1 phenotype. Our procedure for the differential selection of TH1 and TH2 clones reactive with the same Ag should be useful for designing in vitro systems for studying the function of these cell subsets in specific immune responses.

Animals

An alternative pathway of induction of lymphokine production by T lymphocyte clones.

We have previously described a variant murine CTL clone that in contrast to all other clones tested, exhibited a novel capacity to produce IFN-gamma in response to IL-2. This alternative pathway of IFN-gamma induction differed from the conventional TCR complex-mediated pathway in that it was independent of elevated intracellular Ca2+ and insensitive to cyclosporine A. We report here the presence of an analogous pathway in the majority of T lymphocyte clones tested, when these clones are stimulated with IL-2 in the presence of syngeneic or third-party splenocytes. The accessory function of splenocytes in this alternative pathway is mediated by the MAC-1+ subpopulation and apparently involves cell-cell contact. However, the structure with which the MAC-1 antibody reacts probably is not involved directly. No involvement of Ag or the TCR for Ag could be demonstrated in this alternative pathway of lymphokine induction. The array of lymphokines induced by this alternative pathway is only a subset of those induced by antigenic stimulation. Finally, as with the previously described variant clone, IL-2-mediated induction of IFN-gamma production by the normal T lymphocyte clones is independent of normal extracellular Ca2+ levels and insensitive to cyclosporine A. Thus, this alternative pathway of lymphokine induction apparently constitutes a distinct signaling pathway in cloned T lymphocytes.

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Phenotypic and functional analysis of murine CD3+,CD4-,CD8- TCR-gamma delta-expressing peripheral T cells.

Murine CD3+,CD4-,CD8- peripheral T cells, which express various forms of the TCR-gamma delta on their cell surface, have been characterized in terms of their cell-surface phenotype, proliferative and lytic potential, and lymphokine-producing capabilities. Three-color flow cytofluorometric analysis demonstrated that freshly isolated CD3+,CD4-, CD8- TCR-gamma delta lymph node cells were predominantly Thy-1+,CD5dull,IL-2R-,HSA-,B220-, and approximately 70% Ly-6C+ and 70% Pgp-1+. After CD3+,CD4-,CD8-splenocytes were expanded for 7 days in vitro with anti-CD3-epsilon mAb (145-2C11) and IL-2, the majority of the TCR-gamma delta cells expressed B220 and IL-2R, and 10 to 20% were CD8+. In comparison to CD8+ TCR-alpha beta T cells, the population of CD8+ TCR-gamma delta-bearing T cells exhibited reduced levels of CD8, and about 70% of the CD8+ TCR-gamma delta cells did not express Lyt-3 on the cell surface. Functional studies demonstrated that splenic TCR-gamma delta cells proliferated when stimulated with mAb directed against CD3-epsilon, Thy-1, and Ly-6C, but not when incubated with an anti-TCR V beta 8 mAb, consistent with the lack of TCR-alpha beta expression. In addition, activated CD3+,CD4-,CD8- peripheral murine TCR-gamma delta cells were capable of lysing syngeneic FcR-bearing targets in the presence of anti-CD3-epsilon mAb and the NK-sensitive cell line, YAC-1, in the absence of anti-CD3-epsilon mAb. Finally, activated CD3+, CD4-,CD8-,TCR-gamma delta+ splenocytes were also capable of producing IL-2, IL-3, IFN-gamma, and TNF when stimulated in vitro with anti-CD3-epsilon mAb.

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The requirements for triggering of lysis by cytolytic T lymphocyte clones. II. Cyclosporin A inhibits TCR-mediated exocytosis by only selectively inhibits TCR-mediated lytic activity by cloned CTL.

TCR-mediated granule exocytosis, as measured by the release of serine esterase activity, has been implicated in the lytic process of Ag-specific CTL. Exocytosis appears to be the mechanism of release of other lysis-relevant molecules including cytotoxic lymphokines and proteins that have the capacity to induce membrane lesions as measured by the hemolysis of non-nucleated SRBC. In the studies presented here, we assessed the contribution of exocytosis and lymphokine production in CTL lysis of nucleated and non-nucleated target cells by using a panel of murine CTL clones. Ag-mediated activation of cytolysis, lymphokine production, and exocytosis could be mimicked by mAb against the TCR/CD3 complex, or by stimulation with the combination of PMA + calcium ionophore, which appear to bypass the TCR (neither PMA nor calcium ionophore alone induced these functions efficiently in our CD8+ CTL clones). Although lysis, IFN-gamma production and exocytosis of N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysin esterase (BLTE) activity were induced by either stimulus, we were able to identify distinct activation requirements for each of these functions. We found that lymphokine production, exocytosis, and cytolysis could be selectively inhibited. Cycloheximide inhibited IFN-gamma production, but did not inhibit exocytosis of BLTE activity or cytolysis. In addition we showed that cyclosporine A (CsA) profoundly inhibited IFN-gamma production as well as exocytosis induced by stimulation through the Ag receptor or by PMA + calcium ionophore. In contrast, CsA had little or no effect on lysis of nucleated target cells that bear the relevant Ag. These findings indicate that our CTL clones can lyse target cells by a mechanism independent of exocytosis or (de novo) lymphokine production. To directly assess the capacity of our CTL clones to lyse target cells without inducing nuclear damage we developed a system of coating non-nucleated SRBC with anti-CD3 mAb for use as stimuli and as targets for lysis. We found that our cloned CTL were indeed activated to produce IFN-gamma by SRBC that were coated with anti-CD3 mAb, and, furthermore, they were able to lyse the SRBC in a short term cytolytic assay. Thus our CD8+ CTL are capable of lysing certain target cells by a mechanism independent of DNA degradation, presumably by inducing a membrane lesion. In addition, CsA did inhibit lysis of the non-nucleated SRBC targets as well as exocytosis of BLTE activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Protein kinase C-dependent and -independent mechanisms of cloned murine T cell proliferation. The role of protein kinase C translocation and protein kinase C activity.

PMA can induce the proliferation of several CTL clones but not of several Th clones derived and tested in our laboratory. The PMA-stimulated proliferation of our CTL clones (which do not make IL-2 mRNA or protein) occurs independently of IL-2 and is not accompanied by lymphokine release. We now report, however, that protein kinase C (PKC) translocation is induced by PMA in CTL clones as well as in Th clones, which lack a proliferative response to PMA. These results suggest that PKC translocation itself is not a sufficient regulatory mechanism to account for cloned T cell proliferation. Moreover, IL-2 did not induce PKC translocation in a CTL clone, which proliferates when stimulated with IL-2. Thus, PKC translocation may not be necessary for activation of CTL proliferation. Nonetheless, cellular PKC activity appears to be required for the proliferative response of T cell clones after stimulation by PMA/PMA + calcium ionophore (A23187) or by triggering through the TCR: chronic PMA treatment, which depletes intracellular PKC activity, abrogates the proliferative response of T cell clones stimulated by PMA/PMA + A23187 or triggered through the TCR. T cell clones depleted of PKC activity, however, retain the ability to proliferate when challenged with IL-2. Murine T cell clones, therefore, possess PKC-dependent and PKC-independent pathways of proliferation that are not regulated by PKC translocation alone.

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