Growth Transformation of Antigen-Specific T Cell Lines from Rhesus Monkeys byHerpesvirus saimiri

AbstractThis study aims in establishing thein vitrobasis for a primate model to evaluate potential applications ofH. saimiri-transformed T cells. T cell lines specific for myelin basic protein and streptolysin O were derived from rhesus monkeys and transformed to stable antigen-independent growth with strain C488 ofH. saimiri.The transformed T cells from rhesus monkeys did not produce infectious virus and harbored theH. saimirigenome exclusively in an episomal form, whereas transformed T cells from the New World monkeyCalltithrix jacchusreleased infectious virus. Transformed T cells from rhesus monkeys showed an unaltered surface expression of CD2 and CD3, of the activation markers CD25 and CD69, and of the costimulatory molecule CD80 (B7.1). Remarkably, both transformed and nontransformed T cell lines were largely double-positive for CD4 and CD8. In contrast to the parental cell lines, the transformed cells constitutively expressed major histocompatibility complex-DR antigens and were able to present antigen to each other. The transformed T cells from rhesus monkeys continued to express a functionally intact T cell receptor and responded to recognition of their antigen with enhanced proliferation and production of Th1-type cytokines. In conclusion,H. saimiri-transformed rhesus monkey T cells may open a way to primate models for adoptive immunotherapy and studies on the pathogenesis of autoaggressive T cells