In vitro propagation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes that adoptively transfer resistance to Listeria monocytogenes.

Murine T cells generated against heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes or Listeria intracellular product (LIP) were propagated in a source of Interleukin 2. Both T-cell cultures were greater than 98% Lyt 1+, 2/3- and proliferated specifically against LIP and L. monocytogenes crude whole-cell antigen in vitro. Proliferation of both T-cell cultures required the presence of antigen and accessory cells syngeneic to the T cells at the left end of the major histocompatibility complex. The ability of these cultures to adoptively transfer protection against challenge with viable Listeria cells was dramatically different. As few as 10(6) LIP-specific T cells conferred significant protection against a lethal challenge of Listeria cells, whereas cultures induced against crude whole-cell antigen showed little or no protective function. The resistance conferred by LIP-specific T cells was specific in that the cells did not reduce the mortality seen after challenge with Salmonella typhimurium.