Cross-reactive target antigen in cell-mediated cytolysis of cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of Sindbis virus.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against alphavirus-infected L929 cells were generated in mice by two in vivo immunizations of one virus or by in vivo immunization followed by in vitro stimulation of splenocytes with infected peritoneal exudate cells or splenocytes. These CTL caused specific H-2-restricted cytolysis equally well with homologous, heterologous or Sindbis virus ts20 mutant-infected cells. Thus, specific CTL appear to be cross-reactive components in normal immunity to alphaviruses and the E1 glycoprotein is implicated as the target antigen.