Stimulation of cytolytic T cells by isolated viral peptides and HN protein coupled to agarose beads [21]

Sendai virus-infected mouse cells can be lysed by mouse cytolytic thymus-dependent lymphocytes (CTL) directed specifically against the infected cells. The CTL is known to recognise the H-2 antigens on the target cells together with structure(s) including at least the two viral surface glycoproteins also found on purified virus^1-8. We report here that anti-Sendai CTL can be stimulated in vitro by detergent-solubilised viral haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN)⁹, either as the isolated protein or coupled to agarose beads. We further show stimulation by the hydrophilic portion of a protein removed from the virus by the protease subtilisin BPN′, and we demonstrate that cyanogen bromide- (CNBr-) cleaved viral peptides also produce such stimulation.