Inverse relationship between anti-SV40 TASA and anti-H-2 cytotoxic responses

The in vitro cytotoxic response against H-2d and H-2b SV40-transformed fibroblasts was studied in a 40-h 3H-proline assay. A very low response against SV40 TASA is associated with the H-2d antigens on target cells: however, SV40-transformed H-2d cells are as immunogenic as SV40-transformed H-2b cells and prime against H-2b target cells. The data concerning in vitro amplification of the anti-SV40 TASA response and the involvement of cyclophosphamide-sensitive suppressor populations confirm the comparable immunogenicity of SV40-transformed H-2d AND H-2b cells and cannot account for the haplotype-related behavior observed with SV40-transformed target cells. The study of the response against allogeneic SV40-transformed cells shows the reverse situation: the lower cytotoxic response is now associated with the H-2b antigens on SV40-transformed cells. As suggested by the data presented here, an interaction between SV40 TASA and H-2 antigens might be postulated.