Characterization of interleukin 2-dependent cytotoxic T-cell clones. IV. Production of alpha , beta and gamma interferons and interleukin 2 by Lyt-2 super(+) T cells

The production of alpha , beta and gamma interferons (IFN) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) by Lyt-2 super(+)-dependent cytotoxic T-cell lines/clones was investigated. Cloned and uncloned T-cell lines specific for H-2D super(d) or the unique RL(male)1 leukemia antigen were studied. After infection with Sendai virus (SV) or Newcastle disease virus (NDV) all cell lines produced IFN- alpha and - beta . Induction of IFN- gamma was attempted with the mitogens Con A, PHA, PWM, SEA, and SEB, with poly(I:C), with antibodies Lyt-1.2, -2.2, and Thy-1.2, or with the target cells Meth A (H-2D super(d+)) and RL(male)1. All mitogens were effective inducers. However, the antibodies and poly(I:C) were not. One uncloned RL(male)1-specific cell line CTLL-RP, produced IFN- gamma after induction with RL(male)1. The results demonstrate that Lyt-2 super(+) cells can produce a broad spectrum of lymphokine activities after appropriate stimulation. Their availability now affords us to opportunity to study the regulation of lymphokine production at the clonal level.