Dissociated and reconstituted subcellular alloantigen capable of stimulating mouse cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro.

Reconstituted subcellular membrane fragments were prepared from sonicated murine lymphoid tissue membrane fragments by detergent solubilization and dialysis. The reconstituted subcellular antigen was compared with sonicated cell membranes and x-irradiated cells for the ability to stimulate the formation of allogeneic cytotoxic thymus-dependent lymphocytes in vitro. The results showed that the reconstituted subcellular antigen had properties similar to those reported for the sonicated antigen. Both types of antigen could stimulate immune spleen cells but not normal spleen cells. Furthermore, soluble H-2 antigens, even of membrane origin, were incapable of the stimulation unless reconstituted into membrane fragments large enough to be centrifuged at 48,000 X G for 30 min.