Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines are Polyclonal Activators of Human T Lymphocytes

Abstract

Following stimulation with autologous or allogeneic lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) human T lymphocytes acquire two properties which suggest that LCL act as polyclonal activators. Cytotoxic activity, which has an antigen-specific component, is produced towards normal lymphocytes and LCL, and the cells become capable of mounting proliferative responses to antigens on human B lymphocytes which have accelerated secondary-type kinetics. Only weak responses to autologous cells occur. In addition, repeated restimulation with the original LCL leads to a progressive increase in the number of cells in the culture for a period of about 4 weeks. This approach may prove a useful way to grow large numbers of human T lymphocytes for further study.

Generation in vitro of HLA‐restricted EB virus‐specific cytotoxic human T cells by autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines: The roles of previous EB virus infection and foetal calf serum

“…There are several possible explanations for these anomalous patterns of killing. Firstly, variation in the experimental format may be vital in determining the outcome of the T-cell response to challenge with autologous LCL; high doses of stimulator cells may lead to a non-specific or polyclona1 T-cell response (Svedmyr et al, 1975;Boylston and Anderson, 1979), whereas low levels of stimulation may induce a specific response, as shown in this study. Moreover, clones of specific cytotoxic T cells may be selected and enriched by continual restimulation .…”

“…Another aspect of the AMLR which has been investigated in detail is the cytotoxic response by T cells to autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). There are numerous reports showing that autologous LCL stimulated the generation of broadly non-specific cytotoxic T cells (Svedmyr et al, 1975;Viallat et al, 1978, a, b ;Vande Stouwe et al, 1977;Miller et al, 1979;Biron et al, 1981), and Boylston and Anderson (1979) have indicated that LCL are polyclonal activators of human T lymphocytes. In contrast, Sugamura and Hinuma (1980), using multiply-restimulated cells from EBVseropositive donors, concluded that two effector cell populations were generated, one EBV-specific and one non-specific.…”