The activation of L3T4+ helper T cells assisting the generation of anti-tumor Lyt-2+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes: requirement of Ia-positive antigen-presenting cells for processing and presentation of tumor antigens.

The present study investigates the mechanisms of the recognition of tumor antigens by L3T4+ helper T cells responsible for the generation of Lyt-2+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II (Ia) antigen-negative syngeneic X5563 plasmacytoma. Treatment of X5563-immunized spleen cells with anti-L3T4 antibody plus complement (C) diminished the generation of Lyt-2+ anti-X5563 CTL. Since the contribution of L3T4+ cells was completely replaced by the addition of exogenous lymphokines, it was demonstrated that L3T4+ cells functioned as helper T cells assisting the generation of anti-X5563 CTL responses. Elimination of Ia-positive accessory cells (AC) from X5563-immunized spleen cells resulted in the abrogation of CTL generation, whereas the addition of exogenous lymphokines to AC-depleted X5563 immunized spleen cells restored the CTL response. The addition of anti-self Ia antibody to the culture also eliminated CTL responses. These observations demonstrated the requirement of Ia-positive AC for and the involvement of self Ia antigens in the activation of helper T cells. Moreover, use of tumor cells pretreated with paraformaldehyde to cultures of X5563-immunized spleen cells or adding back of AC pretreated with chloroquine to cultures of AC-depleted immune spleen cells failed to generate CTL responses. Finally, the addition of exogenous lymphokines to the above cultures resulted in appreciable restoration of CTL responses. Taken collectively, these results indicate that L3T4+ helper T cells are activated with tumor antigens processed and presented by Ia-positive AC.