Selective reduction and proliferation of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets with bispecific monoclonal antibodies: evidence for inter-T cell-mediated cytolysis.

CD3,4 (anti-CD3:anti-CD4) bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BSMAB) cause a profound decrease in CD4+ T cells and a marked proliferation of CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. CD3,8 (anti-CD3:anti-CD8) BSMAB causes a reciprocal decrease in CD8+ T cells and a proliferation of CD4+ T cells. The major effector of CD4+ T cell cytolysis in the presence of CD3,4 resides in the CD8+ T cell population. In contrast, both the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are effective mediators of cytolysis of the CD8+ T cells in the presence of the CD3,8. The likely underlying mechanism in each case is bridging of the CD4 and CD8 of the target cells to the CD3 complexes of the effector cells by antibodies, mimicking the natural encounter between a cytolytic T cell and its target. Proliferation studies indicated that CD3,4 and CD3,8 each can induce proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the presence of accessory cells. These results suggest that the major selection of the BSMABs occurs via selective destruction of one T cell subset with concurrent stimulation of the remaining CD3+ population. Potential applications of the selective destruction and proliferation include study and manipulation of the T cell subsets in HIV infections, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, autoimmune diseases, and graft rejection.