GENERATION OF EFFECTOR CYTOTOXIC T-CELLS FROM CYTOTOXIC T-CELL PRECURSORS - ROLE OF SOLUBLE FACTORS

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have long been recognized as playing a m ajor role in the immune response to alloantigens and viral antigens as well as tumor antigens. The progress of the last decade in the identi fication and characterization of soluble factors involved in the regul ation of the immune response has greatly improved our knowledge of the mechanisms of CTL activation and regulation. This review will summari ze the data available in the literature regarding different lymphokine s and their specific activity on CTL. In addition it will point out a few of the elements of the systems that hamper its full understanding and it will suggest possible directions for future research.