NAIVE ALLOREACTIVE CD8 T-CELLS ARE ACTIVATED BY PURIFIED MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-I AND ANTIGENIC PEPTIDE

In this report, we demonstrate stimulation of T cell receptor (TCR) tr ansgenic CD8 T cells by isolated major histocompatibility complex (MHC ) class I H-2L(d) complexes and antigenic peptide. This is the first d emonstration of CDS T cells activated by MHC and antigenic peptide in the absence of antigen priming. Furthermore, isolated MHC and a potent peptide antigen can stimulate phenotypically naive CD44(-) T cells to become CTL effecters and to produce interleukin-2 in nanogram per mil liliter amounts. These results demonstrate that particular TCR antigen pairs may overcome the need for specialized antigen-presenting cells and have implications for mechanisms of autoimmunity and tolerance ind uction.