INFLUENZA VIRUS-INFECTED EPITHELIAL-CELLS PRESENT VIRAL-ANTIGENS TO ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC CD8(-LYMPHOCYTES() CYTOTOXIC T)

We have investigated the mechanisms involved in the clearance of viral infection at the epithelium level by analyzing the activity of influe nza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against virus-infecte d CMT-93 intestinal epithelial cells. Epithelial cells infected with l ive influenza virus effectively present viral antigens and were lysed by both homotypic and heterotypic influenza virus-specific CD8(+) T ce lls. These results shed new light on the control of viral infection th rough the elimination of virus-infected epithelial cells by virus-spec ific CTL and demonstrate that CMT-93 cells furnish an appropriate mode l for in vitro evaluation of CTL activity against virus-infected epith elial cells.