Allogeneic cytolysis of reconstituted membrane vesicles.

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Abstract
The successful use of lipid bilayer model membranes as targets for cytotoxic lymphocytes was described. Lipid vesicles were made from a mixture of dipalmitoyl lecithin, dimyristoyl lecithin, and cholesterol. Membrane proteins of [mouse lymphoma] LSTRA or EL4 tumor cells (as source of H-2 antigens), human eye muscle membrane proteins (as supporting proteins); and 51Cr marker were inserted into the lipid vesicles. Incubation of the reconstituted vesicles with lymphocytes sensitized in mixed lymphocyte cultures against allogeneic cells resulted in the specific release of intravesicular 51Cr. Vesicle damage was mediated by thymus-derived lymphocytes. H-2 antigens could be incorporated into vesicles without eye muscle proteins. Immune damage of the vesicles could not be demonstrated when vesicles inserted with H-2 antigens in the absence of eye muscle proteins were used as targets. [This system has been used to study the mechanism of eye muscle injury in Graves ophthalmopathy in the presence of lymphocytes and thyroglobulin].