Evidence for direct linkage between antigen recognition and lytic expression in effector T cells

The relationship between antigen recognition and lytic expression by effector T cells was examined by coculturing two cytolytically active lymphoid cell populations. When antigen recognition between the populations could occur only in one direction, then cytotoxicity was expressed only in that direction and the population whose antigens were recognized lost its lytic activity. In contrast, the cocultured effector cell population fully maintained its lytic potential. This lack of reciprocal inactivation was taken as evidence that T-cell receptor accomodation by surface antigen is linked to the expression of cytolytic activity by effector T lymphocytes.