INDUCTION OF HUMAN CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES BY OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) stimulated human blood T cel ls to a specific cytotoxic response which autologous PHA activated blo od mononuclear cells which had been pre-incubated with oxLDL. The cyto toxic reaction was exerted by CD8(+) enriched cells but not by CD4(+) enriched cells. Allogeneic target cells from HLA mismatched donors wer e not damaged and the reaction was consistently inhibited by monoclona l antibody against HLA class I. Antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells mig ht contribute to lysis of cells in the atherosclerotic plaque that hav e taken up oxLDL and thus participate in the inflammatory process asso ciated with atherosclerosis.