Change in functional phenotype of cloned human alloreactive cytolytic T cells

Alloreactive T cell clones primed in vivo were tested for the expression of T cell differentiation antigens CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8. Each of 29 different clones were found to express CD2 and CD3, but were variable in their expression of CD4 (7 positive clones) and CD8 (15 positive clones). Six clones were positive for both CD4 and CD8. One of the 29 clones expressed neither CD4 or CD8. Over a period of 12-18 weeks of culture, these clones began to lose their alloreactivity but acquired NK-like activity. By changing the concentration of TCGF, the "allo" and "NK-like" lytic activities could be modulated. After 18 weeks of culture, these clones lost their alloreactive specificity, but not their NK activity. The expression of surface markers was unchanged. CD2 and CD3 molecules were determined to play a role in both the alloreactive and NK activity of these clones.