Cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be generated against acetaldehyde-modified syngeneic cells

Acetaldehyde is a metabolic product of ethanol catabolism capable of forming protein adducts. These adducts have been found in situ and could account for the generation of anti-acetaldehyde antibodies found in various stages of alcoholic liver disease. Antibody production implicates participation of the cellular immune system. The existence of a cellular immune response poses the question of whether the body generates a cellular effector response against cells displaying these modified proteins. We have been able to show that murine splenic cells whose surface is acetaldehyde modified can generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in a syngeneic host when the stimulator cells carry the H-Y antigen and the responder population does not. This fact in conjunction with the finding that anti-class I antibody can block the anti-acetaldehyde CTL effector response supports the contention that the acetaldehyde-protein adducts are presented to the CTL in context with an intact class I MHC. This work supports the hypothesis that acetaldehyde-modified cells can generate a cellular immune response and may do so in pathologic states.