Functionally restricted, allospecific, human helper T cell lines that amplify either B cell or cytolytic T cell responses.

Using a panel of partially cloned, OKT4+, DRw-1-specific, alloproliferative human T cell lines, we have identified two functionally restricted and reciprocating types of helper T cells. One provides major histocompatibility complex-restricted help for plaque-forming cell responses by DRw 1+ allogeneic B cells; the other preferentially amplifies the generation of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from CTL precursors that have been suboptimally triggered by alloantigen.