Role of sulphydryl groups in T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.

The role of thiols in T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated by studying the thiols of the target cell and cytotoxic cell separately. Agents which protect the reduced thiols of the target cell inhibit their lysis by the cytotoxic T cells; thiol reactive reagents may be directly toxic to the target cell. The thiol groups of the effector cell are also important, since pre-treatment with thiol reactive reagents inhibits killing.