Hapten-specific T-cell lines in guinea-pig contact sensitivity: carrier specificity and specific accumulation

Dinitrophenyl-specific T-cell lines were established by culturing lymph node-derived lymphocytes from dinitrochlorobenzene-sensitized guinea-pigs with dinitrophenyl-modified macrophages. Cells from this line were all Ia-positive and formed E-rosettes with rabbit erythrocytes; no Ig-positive cells were present in this suspension. Expanded cells exhibited enhanced in vitro and in vivo activity as demonstrated by DNA synthesis and systemic adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity. In vitro DNA synthesis was elicited not only be specific hapten-modified macrophages but also by conjugates of the hapten with homologous (GPA) and even heterologous (BGG, HSA) proteins, thus demonstrating the loss of carrier specificity. Moreover, the proliferative response of expanded cells was elicited not only with hapten-modified syngeneic (strain 2) but also with allogeneic (strain 13) macrophages. Cells from hapten-modified T-cell lines, but not from lymph nodes from in vivo primed guinea-pigs, showed specific accumulation in contact sensitivity skin test sites. Attempts to establish hapten-specific T-cell clones were also at least partially successful.