Cloned human cytotoxic T lymphocytes develop anomalous killer cell function

Mixed lymphocyte cultures were set up between blood mononuclear cells and irradiated autologous or allogeneic B lymphoblasts infected with Epstein-Barr virus. The resulting cytotoxic effector cells were cloned and tested for activity against the stimulating B lymphoblast, K562 and melanoma targets. Specific clones which killed only the stimulating B lymphoblasts (cytotoxic T lymphocytes; CTL) were re-cloned and the subclones tested for cytolysis of B lymphoblasts and melanoma cells. Of seven primary CTL clones generated in allogeneic culture, 308 subclones developed the ability to kill melanoma cells and none retained specific CTL function. In the autologous system, 180 subclones were derived from three specific primary clones: of these, 13 (7%) retained specific function, 29 (16%) were able to kill both B lymphoblasts and melanoma cells, and 93 (52%) killed only the melanoma target. Testing of random clones demonstrated that whereas both B lymphoblast killing (CTL function) and melanoma cell killing (anomalous killer; AK function) were blocked by a monoclonal antibody to LFA-1, only CTL function was blocked by anti-T3 or anti-T8 antibodies. The factor(s) causing the progression of CTL to AK cells are discussed. These data thus demonstrate that the majority of CTL are capable of mediating AK cell function and are thus potentially suitable for passive immunotherapy.