Cell surface analysis of purified protein derivative-induced cytotoxic cells in tuberculous pleurisy.

High NK cell activity was observed in tuberculous pleural effusions from which mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured. Further we observed that cytotoxicity against K562 was augmented by purified protein derivative (PPD). We have now performed the surface analysis of the cells in PPD-induced cytotoxicity using various monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (anti-Leu 1, anti-Leu 7, anti-Leu 11, anti-HLA-DR). Leu 11+ cells have essential cytotoxicity in PPD-induced cytotoxicity, but neither Leu 1+ nor Leu 7+ cells have such cytotoxicity. The PPD-induced cytotoxicity eliminated by the treatment with anti-HLA-DR mAb plus complement was reconstituted by adding either interferon (IFN)-alpha or beta. From these data it was suggested that Leu 11+ cells could be activated through either IFN-alpha or beta derived from HLA-DR+ cells in tuberculous pleural effusion.