Xenospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes use perforin-and Fas-mediated lytic pathways

Abstract

Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity represents one defense mechanism that contributes to transplant rejection. Comparatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for cell-mediated rejection of xenografts. Herein, we have investigated the relative contribution of perforin- and Fas- pathways in lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity generated in response to a variety of human cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells transplanted into mice. Responder lymphocytes generated in immunocompetent mice displayed significant lysis of human targets, suggesting that normally mice can generate a strong lymphocytotoxic response to human cells. Effector cells from mice immunized with o..