Antigen-specific directional target cell lysis by perforin-negative T lymphocyte clones

Int Immunol. 1991 Nov;3(11):1149-56. doi: 10.1093/intimm/3.11.1149.

Abstract

Despite a number of reports indicating that perforin, a pore-forming protein, is the primary effector molecule mediating specific target cell lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), several lines of evidence suggest the existence of perforin-independent mechanisms. We established class II-restricted, soluble protein-specific CD4+ T cell clones with killing function which do not express a detectable amount of perforin and perforin mRNA. Nevertheless, these clones induced cytolysis and DNA fragmentation of target cells in a specific and highly directional manner which was not inhibitable by antibody against TNF/lymphotoxin. These data not only indicate the existence of cytotoxic T cell subsets which do not utilize perforin, but also suggest that perforin is not mandatory for specific target lysis by T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Clone Cells / immunology
  • Clone Cells / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Perforin
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Perforin
  • Ovalbumin
  • DNA
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin