DEMONSTRATION OF CYTOTOXIC LYMPHOCYTES TO VIRUS-INFECTED TARGET-CELLS IN PIGS INOCULATED WITH TRANSMISSIBLE GASTROENTERITIS VIRUS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (2) , 208-213
Abstract
Lymphocytes cytotoxic to virus-infected target cells were induced in pigs orally exposed to transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Autochthonous testicle cells were used as target cells to avoid genetic incompatibility of effector lymphocytes and target cells. Cytotoxic lymphocytes were demonstrated in Peyer''s patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and peripheral blood on post-inoculation day (PID) 7. Cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes increased thereafter and reached the maximal amount at PID 21. Lymphocyte cytoxicity was somewhat greater in lymphocytes of peripheral blood and spleen that in those of Peyer''s patches and mesenteric lymph nodes after PID 14. Lymphocyte reactivity to the viral antigen measured by the lymphocyte proliferative assay was higher in Peyer''s patch and mesenteric lymph node cells than in peripheral blood and splenic cells. Lymphocyte cytotoxicity was depressed by treating effector cells with anti-porcine thymocyte serum and complement [C]. Lymphocyte suspensions treated with anti-porcine thymocyte serum and C were still cytotoxic to some extent against virus-infected target cells, although T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes were completely excluded by the treatment. Cytotoxic mechanisms other than the direct action of cytotoxic T lymphocytes may be involved in the cytotoxicity assay systems used in the present studies. When allogenic cells (testicle cells of siblings) were used together with autochthonous cells as targets, lymphocyte cytotoxicity was equally expressed against autochthonous and allogenic target cells in 2 of 3 experiments. Lymphocyte cytotoxicity was greater against autochthonous cells than against allogenic target cells in 1 of 3 experiments.