New Dw8 associated class II specificities defined by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones

Two Leu2(-), Leu3(+), Leu4(+) human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, BE-11 and AF-3, were generated against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed cell line GI (Dw8/DRw8/DQWa homozygous). Blocking experiments with various monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) revealed that the former recognized the DR molecule and the latter recognized the DQ molecule, respectively. Panel studies showed that CTL clone BE-11 lysed not only DRw8-positive cells but also DR1-positive ones. CTL clone AF-3 exhibited cytotoxicity against only Dw8/DRw8/DQWa typed cells. Until now, such specificities have not been defined serologically or biochemically. These results demonstrated that the previously unknown DR and DQ specificities could be defined by CTL clones, suggesting that CTL clones might be especially valuable tools for investigating the structural polymorphism of HLA antigens.