Syngenic C57BL/6 mice (H-2b) vaccinated with mitomycin C-treated L12R4 T lymphoma cells develop protective immunity toward the MHC class II-negative tumor cells. In the present study, we characterize the nature, mode of function, and specificity of the effector cells in this immunity. These cells are TCR-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes with effector function in vitro as well as in vivo upon transfer to naive mice. They produce high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, but little or no IL-4. By means of TCRβ-negative variant L12R4 cells, P3.3, and TCR-Vβ2 cDNA-transfected and TCR-Vβ2-expressing P3.3 lymphoma cells, we found that a significant part of the effector T cells are specific for the Vβ12 region. The growth inhibition of L12R4 cells in vitro was inhibited by anti-H-2, anti-Kb, and anti-Db mAb. Furthermore, vaccination with Vβ12 peptide p67–78, which binds to both Kb and Db MHC class I molecules, induces partial protection against L12R4 T lymphoma cells. Thus, self-reactive TCR-Vβ-specific, Kb-, or Db-restricted CD8+ T cells mediate inhibition of T cell lymphoma growth in vitro and in vivo.
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