In vivo and in vitro characterization of murine T-cell clones reactive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Seventeen helper T-cell clones were derived by stimulating lymph node cells from sensitized C57BL/6 mice with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, M. tuberculosis H37Rv, or purified protein derivative. Most clones cross-reacted with Mycobacterium bovis BCG, H37Ra, H37Rv, and purified protein derivative. However, four clones were able to differentiate H37Rv from H37Ra, or BCG from H37Ra and H37Rv. In addition, four other T-cell clones recognized recombinant antigens of 19 and 65 kilodaltons isolated from a genomic expression library of M. tuberculosis by using monoclonal antibodies. All clones were Ia restricted and had the Thy-1.2+ Lyt-1+ L3T4+ Lyt-2- phenotype. On stimulation with antigen, all of the clones tested secreted interleukin-2 and gamma interferon but not B-cell stimulatory factor 1. All of the clones tested induced an antigen-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity response upon local cell transfer, although the magnitude of this response differed markedly among clones.