SELECTIVE RESPONSE OF GAMMA-DELTA T-CELL HYBRIDOMAS TO ORTHOMYXOVIRUS-INFECTED CELLS

A gamma delta T-ceH hybridoma established from influenza virus-infecte d mice responded in a reproducible way when cultured with influenza vi rus-infected stimulators, Subclones of this line responded to cells in fected with influenza viruses A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), S-31 (H3N2), and B/HK/ 8/73 but not to cells infected with vaccinia virus or Sendai virus, Th is spectrum of response to both type A and type B orthomyxoviruses has never been recognized for the alpha beta T-cell receptor-positive sub sets. There was no response to cells infected with a panel of recombin ant vaccinia viruses expressing all individual influenza virus protein s, and so it is unlikely that the stimulating antigen is of viral orig in, The alternative is that the antigen is a cellular molecule induced in influenza virus-infected cells, Infectious virus was required for stimulation, and immunofluorescence studies showed increased expressio n of heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) in influenza virus but not Sendai v irus- or vaccinia virus-infected cells, Both the hybridoma generated f rom influenza virus-infected mice and an established hybridoma which u ses the same gamma delta T-cell receptor combination responded to reco mbinant Hsp60. Furthermore, the Hsp60-reactive hybridoma, which was ob tained from an uninfected mouse, also responded to influenza virus-inf ected cells, indicating that Hsp60 may indeed be the target antigen.