Joint recognition by cytotoxic T cells of inactivated Sendai virus and products of the major histocompatibility complex.

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Abstract
Cytotoxic T [thymus-derived] cells specific for Sendai virus [SV] were generated by culturing murine spleen cells in vitro together with UV-inactivated SV. In vivo immunization of donor mice with UV-inactivated SV resulted in an in vitro secondary response of increased magnitude. Cytotoxic activity was demonstrated in a short-term 51Cr-release assay, using syngeneic tumor cells which were coated with inactivated SV by incubation at 4.degree. C for 30 min. The lysis of SV-coated target cells was restricted by the H-2 haplotype of the target cells, suggesting that the H-2 genes of the target cell contributed to the specificity of the lysis. Kinetic experiments showed that sesceptibility to lysis by cytotoxic T cells specific for Sendai virus appeared within 30 min after coating target cells with inactivated virus. Furthermore, there was no detectable synthesis of new proteins in cells treated with UV-inactivated Sendai virus. Neither viral replication nor the synthesis of new proteins are apparently necessary for the production of the antigen recognized by cytotoxic cells specific for SV. The virus-specific component on the target cells is probably a preformed virion antigen adsorbed onto or integrated into the cell membrane. If the cytotoxic T cell recognizes a single antigenic determinant specified by viral and H-2 genes, this determinant may be formed by the physical association of H-2 and Sendai virus antigens rather than by their alteration during the processes of synthesis.