The role of the CD8-positive subset of T cells in proliferative responses to soluble antigens. II. CD8-positive cells are not responsible for DR-associated differences in responsiveness to mumps and Coxsackie B4.

The role of CD8 (T8, Leu 2)-positive T lymphocytes in the proliferative T-lymphocyte response to mumps and Coxsackie B4 viral antigens in vitro was investigated. The frequency among enriched T-lymphocyte blasts of antigen-reactive T lymphocytes (ARTL) restricted by different DR-associated elements was investigated, using antigenic restimulation with allogeneic antigen-presenting cells in a limiting dilution assay. A decreased frequency of DR3-restricted and an increased frequency of DR4-restricted mumps and Coxsackie B4 ARTL were seen in the limiting dilution assay, whether or not HLA class I determinants were shared in the antigenic restimulation. Removal of CD8-positive cells did not increase the primary in vitro responsiveness to mumps and Coxsackie B4 viral antigens, and did not change the DR-associated differences in the frequency of ARTL seen in the limiting dilution assay.