Specificity of anti-HLA-B27 cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Sub-types of HLA-B27 were detected by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated between HLA-A, -B- and -C-identical B27-positive individuals. We now report the specificity of six independent CTL's generated by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) of HLA-A, -B and -C serologically identical B27-positive responder and stimulator cells. Three CTL's recognize one sub-type, and three the other. The combined reactivity of all CTL's allows unequivocal "typing" of B27-positive cells for the two different sub-types B27K and B27W. The specificity of two CTL's was analysed by cold-target inhibition. The results indicate that (1) no further sub-types of HLA-B27 can be detected by the CTL's raised in these combinations; (2) the majority of the CTL's is directed against the B27 antigens; and (3) "extra reactions" on B27-negative cells are caused by a subset(s) of CTL's recognizing unknown antigens shared between stimulator and target cells. CTL's raised by stimulation of HLA-B27-negative responder cells with B27-positive cells of either sub-type lysed all B27-positive target cells indiscriminately. In cold-target inhibition, however, B27-positive cells, carrying the sub-type of B27 different from that of the stimulator, could not inhibit the lysis of cells bearing the stimulator sub-type of B27. This indicates the activation, in B27-negative responders, of at least two different groups of CTL clones, one directed against shared determinants of HLA-B27, and one against the HLA-B27 sub-type. Heterogeneity of the HLA-B27 antigen may have implications for studies on the well-known association between this antigen and various diseases.