GAMMA-DELTA T-CELLS FROM INFLUENZA-INFECTED MICE DEVELOP A NATURAL-KILLER-CELL PHENOTYPE FOLLOWING CULTURE

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) populations recovered from mice with seco ndary influenza pneumonia contain gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR)+NK 1.1(-) lymphocytes and gamma delta TCR(-)NK1.1(+) natural killer (NK) cell populations. Stimulating the CD4(-)8(-) component of the BAL with a monoclonal antibody to CD3 epsilon and rIL-2 leads to the emergence of substantial numbers of CD4(-)8(-)gamma delta TCR(+)NK1.1(+) and CD 4(-)8(-)alpha beta TCR(+)NK1.1(+) lymphocytes. The NK1.1(+) gamma delt a T cells are potent cytotoxic effecters, causing much higher lysis of YAC-1 target cells than the gamma delta TCR(+)NK1.1(-) lymphocytes th at are present concurrently. CD4(+) and CD8(+) alpha beta T cells cult ured in the same way express little (if any) NK1.1. The possible funct ional role of NK1.1(+) gamma delta T cells is discussed. (C) 1994 Acad emic Press, Inc.