Antigen-specific proliferative human T cell clones with specificity for diphtheria toxoid: genetic and molecular restriction by class II antigens

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Abstract
Human T lymphocyte clones (TLC) specific for diphtheria toxoid (DT) were isolated from a DR6/7 individual by cloning in soft agar in vivo sensitized T lymphocytes. We report here the isolation and characterization of 3 of these clones by studying: (a) the kinetic of activation, (b) the surface phenotypes, (c) the fine specificity for one of the 2 DT chains and (d) the genetic restriction of the proliferative response by the haplotype DR7. Moreover, blocking studies of the proliferative response to DT by various immunochemically characterized anti‐HLA‐DR monoclonal antibodies indicate that, on the DR7 molecule, more than one Ia determinant may participate in the clonal DT proliferative response. By using human TLC of a defined specificity and well‐characterized anti‐DR monoclonal antibodies, such studies may help to define the functional repertoire of Ia molecules in man.