Peritoneal macrophages as target cells for measuring virus-specific T cell mediated cytotoxicity in vitro.

In inbred or outbred mice lysis of virally modified cells by thymus-derived lymphocytes occurs only within a H-2 compatible system. Peritoneal macrophages provide a convenient source of syngeneic target cells. They are readily infected in vitro with LCM virus, and show high levels of specific 51Cr release when exposed to T cells from LCM immune mice.