The Journal of Immunology, Vol 142, Issue 6 1797-1802, Copyright © 1989 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Induction of lysis by T cell receptor gamma delta+/CD3+ T lymphocytes via CD2 requires triggering via the T11.1 epitope only

PS Goedegebuure, DM Segal, E Braakman, RJ Vreugdenhil, BA Van Krimpen, RJ Van de Griend and RL Bolhuis
Department of Immunology, Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The requirements for activation of the lytic machinery through CD2 of TCR gamma delta+/CD3+ cells were examined, by utilizing bispecific heteroconjugates containing anti-CD2 mAb cross-linked to anti-DNP. Contrary to the CD2 activation requirements in TCR alpha beta+/CD3+ cells, cytotoxic activity in TCR gamma delta+/CD3+ clones and TCR-/CD3- NK cell clones can be induced by heteroconjugates containing a single anti-CD2 (OKT11.1) mAb. Activation of TCR gamma delta+/CD3+ cells via CD2 is independent of heteroconjugates binding to CD16 (Fc gamma RIII), because heteroconjugates prepared from Fab fragments induced equal levels of lysis. Moreover, anti-CD16 mAb did not inhibit triggering via CD2 in TCR gamma delta+/CD3+ cells. In TCR-/CD3- NK cells, however, induction of cytotoxicity via CD2 is co-dependent on interplay with CD16. Anti-CD3 mAb blocked the anti-CD2 x anti-DNP heteroconjugate- induced cytotoxicity of TCR gamma delta+/CD3+ cells, indicating a functional linkage between CD2 and CD3 on these cells. We conclude that induction of lysis via CD2 shows qualitatively different activation requirements in TCR gamma delta+/CD3+, TCR alpha beta+/CD3+ CTL and TCR- /CD3- NK cells.