Inhibition of cell-mediated cytolysis of trinitrophenyl-derivatized target cells by alloantisera directed to the products of the K and D loci of the H-2 complex.

The role of the products of the K and D loci of the H-2 complex as target antigens for cytotoxic T cells generated to modified syngeneic cells has been investigated. Spleen cells, when cocultured with trinitrophenyl-derivatized syngeneic cells, generate cytolytic T cells that lyse most effectively tumor or spleen targets that are trinitrophenyl-derivatized and H-2 identical to the sensitizing cell. Cytolysis is inhibited by alloantisera to the K and/or D specificities of the target cells and by anti-dinitrophenyl antisera. Cytolic cells generated in this manner are also able to lyse, though less efficiently, trinitrophenyl-derivatized tumor and spleen targets that do not share products of the K and D loci with the sensitizing cell, and this cytolysis is also blocked by alloantisera directed to the H-2 serological specificities of such targets.