Activation of human T lymphocytes. III. Triggering of bystander cytotoxicity in cytotoxic T cell clones by antibodies against the T3 antigen or by a calcium ionophore

Expansion of rat 6-thioguanine-resistant T-lymphocyte clones by stimulation with ionomycin and a phorbol ester

Previous molecular analyses of the mutations produced in the rat lymphocyte hprt assay were hindered by difficulties encountered in growing mutant lymphocytes from 6-thioguanine-resistant clones. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, and the tumor promotor, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, to stimulate clone expansion. A medium containing these two agents, along with mitogen-free conditioned medium, was found to expand 64% of 276 mutant clones to at least 5 x 10(5) cells in nine days of culture. Some clones were expanded to more than 4 x 10(6) cells. The procedure appears suitable for propagating rat lymphocyte clones for mutation analysis.

Evidence for a paracrine pathway of B-cell stimulation in hairy cell leukaemia

It is a well-known phenomenon that the growth of malignant B-lymphocytes, i.e. hairy cells, is regulated by cytokines. Several investigators have suggested that the stimulating cytokines are produced by the malignant B cells themselves, indicating an autocrine growth regulation. In this paper we demonstrate that T-lymphocyte clones produce soluble mediators which stimulate the growth of malignant B lymphocytes. The incidence of the growth-stimulating T-cell clones derived from peripheral blood is identical in patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) and healthy controls. About 50% of the clones stimulate the growth of hairy cells, but not the growth of purified B lymphocytes of healthy donors. The stimulating activity of a single clone varies when tested on different hairy cells. Interferon alpha (IFN alpha), but not antibodies against tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) or interleukin-2 (IL-2), completely inhibit the growth-stimulating activity. Our results indicate that a paracrine growth regulation has to be considered in addition to the postulated autocrine loop in the growth regulation of malignant B cells.

Anti-CD2 and anti-CD3 induced T cell cytotoxicity of human intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes

The effector function of immunocompetent cells in the gut mucosa has not yet been defined. The cytotoxic function of these cells might be important in the normal immune response and could be relevant to the mucosal damage seen in inflammatory conditions. The cytotoxic function of isolated intraepithelial and lamina propria mononuclear cells in six and 18 hour assays after the addition of various stimuli that interact with the human leukocyte antigens CD2 and CD3 on the mucosal effector cells was investigated. T cell phenotypes were determined using CD4, CD8, and HML1 to characterise cells of the appropriate compartments. Anti-CD3 and phytohaemagglutinin can induce toxic activity of lamina propria lymphocytes in most individuals after six hours and in all individuals after 18 hours. Anti-CD2, anti-CD3, and phytohaemagglutinin are similarly effective at triggering lamina propria lymphocytes. Intraepithelial lymphocytes contain predominantly CD8 and HML1 positive T cells, differentiating phenotypically intraepithelial lymphocytes from lamina propria lymphocytes. Intraepithelial lymphocytes are not cytotoxic at six hours, but have a toxic function comparable with lamina propria lymphocytes after 18 hours with all three triggers. Intraepithelial lymphocytes from inflamed mucosa (Crohn's disease and diverticulitis) mediate significantly reduced cytotoxicity in vitro compared with normal mucosa, whereas lamina propria lymphocyte toxicity is not different. Reduced numbers of cytotoxic cells and reduced reactivity to the trigger substances used after in vivo activation or cold target inhibition could explain the observed differences between intraepithelial lymphocytes from inflamed and uninflamed mucosa. Changes in cell mediated cytotoxicity of intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria lymphocytes may be involved in the mucosal damage in these inflammatory conditions.

FcR-mediated crosslinking of Ta1 (CDw26) induces human T lymphocyte activation

Ta1 (CDw26) is a 105-kDa glycoprotein of unknown function whose expression on human T lymphocytes is strongly correlated with activation and proliferation. The subset of peripheral blood T cells expressing Ta1 includes the principal responsive population to proliferative stimulation by recall antigens as well as monoclonal antibodies directed to the CD3/T cell receptor complex and the CD2 (T11) molecule. We now show that the Ta1 molecule is itself an alternate mediator of human T lymphocyte activation. T cell clones were induced to proliferate and exert their cytolytic effector function by anti-Ta1 monoclonal antibodies in the presence of Fc-receptor-positive accessory or target cells. Resting T cells from peripheral blood were also activated to proliferate by anti-Ta1, but only if both Fc-receptor-positive accessory cells and exogenous IL-2 were present. Anti-Ta1 antibodies induced increased expression of IL-2 receptors on purified T cells under these conditions. Activation via Ta1 was shown to be functionally interconnected to CD3/T cell receptor activation mechanisms, because modulation of the CD3/T cell receptor complex inhibited anti-Ta1-mediated cytolysis without affecting Ta1 surface expression. While demonstrating that the CDw26 antigen-mediated pathway of activation is not dependent on one unique epitope, our results suggest that the Ta1 glycoprotein can mediate T cell activation directly, suggesting that it may be associated with an important cellular component of the human T cell regulatory network.

Clonal analysis of functionally distinct human CD4+ T cell subsets

A large number of CD4+ T cell clones, obtained from peripheral blood T lymphocytes by direct limiting dilution, allowed us to address the question whether functional heterogeneity exists within the human CD4+ T cell subset. Cytotoxic capacity of cloned T cells was analyzed with the use of anti-CD3 antibodies and target cells bearing FcR for murine IgG. 6 of 12 CD4+ clones obtained were able to lyse Daudi or P815 cells in the presence of anti-CD3 antibodies. The remaining six CD4+ T cell clones tested did not display anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxic activity and did not acquire this cytotoxic capacity during a culture period of 20 wk. In the absence of anti-CD3 mAb, no lytic activity against Daudi, P815, and K562 target cells was observed under normal culture conditions. Phenotypic analysis of these two distinct types of CD4+ T cells did not reveal differences with regard to reactivity with CDw29 (4B4) and CD45R (2H4) mAbs that have been described to recognize antigens associated with helper suppressor/inducer (respectively) CD4+ cells. The CD4+ clones without anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxic activities (Th2) consistently showed a high expression level of CD28 antigens, whereas the cytotoxic clones (Th1) expressed low amounts of CD28. Th1 CD4+ clones did produce IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha/beta, whereas the Th2 T cell clones produced minimal amounts of IL-2 and only low levels of INF-gamma and TNF-alpha/beta in response to anti-CD3 mAbs and PMA. Although not all CD4+ clones did release IL-4, there was no correlation with cytotoxic activity. Moreover, as compared with the Th1 CD4+ clones, Th2 CD4+ T cell clones proliferated moderately in response to immobilized anti-CD3 mAbs. However, proliferation reached the level of the cytotoxic clones when anti-CD28 mABs were present during culture. Both CD4+ subsets provided help for B cell differentiation upon stimulation with anti-CD3 mAbs. Our data suggest that the human CD4+ subset, in analogy to the murine system, comprises two functionally distinct T cell subpopulations, both of which are able to exert helper activity for polyclonal B cell differentiation, but which differ in cytotoxic capacity, lymphokine production, and requirements for proliferation. A function for these two types of T cells in the immune response is discussed.

Clonal analysis of human T lymphocytes infiltrating the liver in chronic active hepatitis B and primary biliary cirrhosis

Human T lymphocytes infiltrating the liver in chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B) and primary biliary cirrhosis were isolated from liver biopsy cores, cloned by limiting dilution technique and expanded in vitro. Phenotypic and functional analysis demonstrates that this tissue infiltrate represents a heterogeneous cell population. However, when compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes of the same patients, a marked enrichment for T8+ cytotoxic T cells was found to exist at a local site in both types of chronic liver disease. These data provide support for the notion that liver cell injury in CAH-B and PBC may be mediated by a common immunologic mechanism likely executed by cells of the T lineage.

Non-specific propagation of human antigen-dependent T lymphocyte clones

Most T lymphocyte clones require periodical restimulation with specific antigen in addition to growth factors to maintain long-term growth in vitro. Since in many cases the specific antigen for a given T cell clone is not known or not available, alternative methods of stimulation are required. In this report a method for a non-antigen-specific stimulation of antigen-dependent proliferative or cytotoxic human T cell clones is described. Introduction of aldehydes into galactose residues on stimulator cells leads to the stimulation of T cell clones by modified stimulator cells in the absence of a mitogen. This system is as efficient as the use of mitogenic antibodies or lectins but avoids the disadvantages of these polyclonal T cell activators.

Expression and function of CD8 in a murine T cell hybridoma

In general, the human CD8 molecule is expressed on T cells specific for HLA class I molecules. Studies designed to delineate the function and to define the ligand of the CD8 molecule have been complicated by the fact that the presumptive ligand for CD8 is on the HLA class I molecule, the same molecule encoding the ligand for the antigen-specific T cell receptor. The ability to express genes in cells other than their natural host has produced a new technology with which to approach CD8 functional studies. The insertion of a cDNA clone for CD8 in a defective retroviral vector has allowed the transfer of CD8 by infection with the resulting defective retrovirus. CD8 was then expressed in an HLA class II-specific T cell, thus separating the ligand requirements of the TCR and CD8. By this approach, the human CD8 molecule was expressed in a murine T cell hybridoma specific for human class II antigens. The resulting CD8+ hybridomas demonstrated a 10-fold increase in IL-2 production over the parent cell line when stimulated with JY, a human B lymphoblastoid cell line expressing both class I and II HLA antigens, demonstrating that expression of CD8 increases T cell activation. mAbs directed against the CD8 molecule inhibited the response of CD8+ hybridomas to JY, supporting the conclusion that the CD8 molecule was fractional. The role of CD8 as a receptor for class I MHC antigens was addressed by stimulation with a cell line expressing HLA-DR antigens, but lacking the expression of HLA class I antigens (Daudi). Stimulation of the CD8+ hybridomas by Daudi did not result in increased IL-2 production. The response to Daudi was unaltered by the addition of anti-CD8 mAb, in contrast to the ability of anti-CD8 mAb to block JY stimulation. Furthermore, mAbs directed against the class I antigens present on JY cells were able to block the enhanced response of the CD8+ hybridomas to JY. These data support the hypothesis that HLA class I molecules are the ligands involved in the CD8-dependent enhancement of T cell activation.

Inhibition of T cell cytolytic potential by concanavalin A: a result of activation?

We investigated the effects of concanavalin A (Con A) on T cell-mediated lympholysis. Human cytotoxic T cell lines were generated from peripheral blood and these lines were shown to lyse lectin-coated K562 target cells. Addition of soluble Con A to the assay resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the cytolysis. Preincubation experiments demonstrated that this inhibitory effect was exerted at the effector cell level. F(ab')2 fragments of WT32, a monoclonal antibody against T3, blocked the cytolysis of Con A-preincubated K562 target cells to a large extent. We further showed that Con A strongly inhibited the cytolysis exerted by alloantigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxic T cell lines against their specific targets. On the other hand, Con A had no clear inhibitory effect on the cytotoxicity of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells against K562 target cells. We hypothesize that Con A-induced inhibition of cytotoxicity may be explained by a direct triggering of the lytic potential of activated T cells.

T lymphocytes displaying major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytotoxicity after activation by K46M, a mitogenic monoclonal antibody against leucoagglutinin-reactive human T lymphocyte surface components

Activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with the mitogenic monoclonal antibody (MoAb) K46M, which recognizes 1-5% of PBL, resulted in the expansion of cells with cytolytic activity. Thus, after culture of the activated lymphocytes in medium containing interleukin 2 (IL-2), they lysed a variety of cultured cell lines. The majority of the activated lymphocytes reacted with MoAb to CD8, CD3, and to the T cell antigen receptor heterodimer (Ti) but not with antibodies to antigens expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. The cytotoxicity was not inhibited by MoAb to CD3 or Ti. However, the killing of K562, but not of other cell lines, was enhanced by three to four times in the presence of anti-Ti antibodies. Anti-CD3 or other control antibodies had no effect. Cold target inhibition experiments indicated that the cytolytic lymphocytes recognized closely related structures on the target cells. Phenotypically and functionally similar effector cells emerged after activation of PBL with the anti-CD3 MoAb OKT3. Taken together, the results indicate that activation of PBL with MoAb K46M induces cytotoxic cells that differ from classical NK cells but that resemble mature cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). However, unlike CTL, cytotoxicity was not MHC-restricted and the conventional T-cell receptor complex (CD3/Ti) appeared not to be involved in target cell recognition and cytolysis.

Lysis of tumor cells by the retargeting of murine cytolytic T lymphocytes with bispecific antibodies

The specificity and efficiency of tumor-cell lysis by the retargeting of murine cytolytic lymphocytes (CTL) with bispecific antibodies was examined. Bispecific antibodies (also known as heteroaggregated or hybrid antibodies) were produced by the chemical coupling of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against H-2 antigens and the murine T-cell receptor (TCR). Murine tumor cell lines which expressed on their plasma membrane an antigen reactive with one component of the bispecific antibody were efficiently lysed in the presence of polyclonal murine CTL. CTL capable of lysis were generated by stimulating spleen or lymph-node cells with ConA and IL-2, while unstimulated cells or cells incubated only with IL-2 showed no lysis of target cells with bispecific antibodies. Furthermore, the lysis of target cells by bispecific antibodies and CTL did not cause the lysis of bystander cells (cells not expressing an antigen recognized by the antibody which are mixed with the target cells). The efficient CTL-mediated lysis observed with these antibodies makes this a promising approach for the immunotherapy of human cancer.

Calcium and inositolphosphates in the activation of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Reports from a number of laboratories have shown that mAbs against the T3-Ti receptor complex cause an increase in cytosolic-free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) and the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositolbisphosphate (PIP2) in CTLs. In the present report we show that activation of CTLs by their specific targets causes: (a) release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores; (b) transient formation of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3); and (c) an increased permeability to Ca2+ of CTL plasma membrane. Killing of unrelated targets could be induced by cocentrifugation of the unrelated targets with CTLs in the presence of A23187 or PMA. We conclude that: (a) activation of CTLs by specific antigens triggers the generation of the same intracellular mediators generated by stimulation of lymphocytes with anti-T3-Ti receptor antibodies and/or with polyclonal mitogens; and (b) intracellular signals that mediate the delivery of the lethal hit by CTLs are indistinguishable from those that induce cell proliferation.

Antigen-receptor interaction requirement for conjugate formation and lethal-hit triggering by cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be bypassed by protein kinase C activators and Ca2+ ionophores

We show that phorbol esters and Ca2+ ionophores can trigger the lysis of nonantigen-bearing target cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This effect obviates the requirement for antigen-receptor-mediated recognition of the antigen; the intensity of lysis is dose and Ca2+ dependent and requires contact between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and target cells. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter to enumerate cytotoxic T lymphocyte-target cell conjugates, we show that phorbol esters at concentrations that triggered lysis of non-antigen-bearing target cells also increased the number of stable conjugates with these target cells. The results point to the importance of the antigen-nonspecific engagements of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in immunologic surveillance. The data also show that the linkage between the T-cell receptor and antigen is not mandatory for conjugate formation, for the strengthening of conjugates, and for lysis.

Targeting cytotoxic T cells to antigen-specific B lymphocytes

A recent development in immunomanipulation involves the targeting of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to cell-bound antigens using bispecific antibodies. These antibodies have been engineered such that specificity is directed against the T cell receptor (TCR) or TCR-associated T3 molecules, as well as against the chosen antigen. The present study was aimed to force interactions between T and B cells by bridging their receptors. F23.1 antibodies, which are specific for gene products of the TCR V beta 8 gene family, were conjugated with TNP (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) and this construct was used to bridge the receptors of V beta 8+ T cells with the receptors of TNP-specific B cells. The bridging was demonstrated by direct killing of both a TNP-specific B hybridoma and of blast cells from mice transgenic for mu, kappa of the TNP-specific antibody Sp6. Further, F23.1-TNP constructs in conjunction with V beta 8+ CTL were shown to specifically deplete Ig-secreting B cells from Sp6 transgenic mice. Conjugates of TCR-specific antibodies and antigen are theoretically useful in vivo to either deplete or expand B cells of a given specificity by coupling their receptors to the TCR of CTL or T helper cells, respectively.

The use of hybrid hybridomas to target human cytotoxic T lymphocytes

This study describes a general strategy to produce hybrid monoclonal antibodies that are capable of targeting human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against any cell carrying the appropriate target antigen. This is done by fusing a HAT-sensitive, G418-resistant anti-T3 hybridoma with immune spleen cells (or with other hybridomas) that produce antibodies against the desired target antigen. In the hybrid hybridomas the reassortment of Ig heavy and light chains results in the production of bifunctional antibody molecules. Because of their double specificity, these antibodies are able to bridge human CTL to target cells and trigger cytotoxic function. We have isolated several stable hybrid hybridomas in which one specificity is against T3 and one either against HLA antigens (class II, DC-1, A3), human Ig (IgM, IgE, kappa), Toxoplasma gondii or an ovary carcinoma-associated antigen. In all of these cases we show that culture supernatants can efficiently and specifically target any CTL clone against any target cell that possesses the relevant surface antigen recognized by the antibody. Furthermore, the killing requires as little as 0.1 ng/ml of antibody, occurs at effector to target ratios comparable to those used in conventional cytotoxic assays and does not affect bystander cells. Nonspecific killing of Fc receptor-positive cells can be avoided using F(ab')2 fragments. As an example, we show that it is possible to change the major histocompatibility complex class and allospecificity of a CTL clone and target CTL against non-major histocompatibility complex antigens such as Ig, parasites and tumor-associated antigens.

Evidence for a regulatory role of the T8 (CD8) antigen in antigen-specific and anti-T3-(CD3)-induced lytic activity of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones

The functional role of the T8 antigen of human T cells was studied by inhibition with anti-T8 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of the cytotoxic action of T8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones (CTL). All clones were allospecific and directed against HLA-B7. The ability of seven different anti-T8 mAb to inhibit the cytotoxicity of these alloreactive CTL clones corresponded with their avidity for a particular target cell. The lysis of cross-reactive antigen-bearing target cells was more readily blocked by anti-T8 mAb than lysis of the specific B7 target cell against which a clone was raised. The seven anti-T8 mAb showed a spectrum of CTL blocking ability ranging from strong blocking with all five CTL clones tested to weak inhibition of only two out of five clones. mAb inhibition of CTL reactivity and cold target inhibition studies with one of the five CTL clones indicate a post-binding role of the T8 molecule. Functional epitope mapping based on CTL blocking with the anti-T8 mAb resulted in the definition of one nonfunctional epitope on the T8 molecule which is only expressed on mature T lymphocytes and a cluster of closely related functional epitopes expressed on both thymocytes and mature T lymphocytes. Not only allospecific cytotoxicity, but also nonspecific cytotoxicity induced anti-T3 mAb in these allospecific clones was inhibited by anti-T8 mAb in the absence of HLA class I expression on the target cell (Daudi cell line). The hierarchy of blocking with anti-T8 mAb and the classification of functional epitopes on T8 in anti-T3-induced nonspecific cytotoxicity were similar to those obtained in blocking of allospecific reactivity of the CTL clones. This analogy points to an identical function of the T8 antigen in both allospecific and anti-T3-induced nonspecific cytotoxicity. If HLA class I molecules are the counter structures of the T8 antigen, then these results argue against an adhesion-like function of the T8 structure. The combined results show that the T8 molecule has a regulatory role in CTL activation. It is postulated that the T8 antigen might serve as a receptor that transduces a negative feedback signal for T cell activation which prevents T cell triggering by nonspecific interaction.

Physical and functional association of the T cell receptor and the T3 molecular complex on cytotoxic T cell clones that are differentially inhibitable by anti-T3 antibodies

To examine the hypothesis that the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TcR) can function independently from the T3 complex on cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, the physical and functional association of the T3 molecular complex and the T cell receptor has been examined on CTL clones that are differentially susceptible to inhibition by anti-T3 antibodies. From a panel of nine DPw2-specific CTL clones derived from the same donor, two clones (8.4 and 8.8) that were the most disparate in their susceptibility to inhibition by anti-T3 antibody were chosen for study. No significant differences were found between 8.4 and 8.8 for: the levels of cell surface expression of the T3 complex and the TcR; the ability to modulate T3 cell surface molecules; and the capacity of the TcR to comodulate with the T3 complex. Modulation of the T3 complex from clone 8.4 did not significantly affect cytolytic activity, and incubation of modulated 8.4 with additional anti-T3 antibody did not inhibit cytolytic activity. Although no T3 function for clone 8.4 could be demonstrated by simply blocking cytolytic activity with anti-T3 antibody, addition of limiting quantities of anti-T11 (but not anti-T4, anti-Tac, or anti-LFA-1) antibodies plus anti-T3 produced a marked synergistic inhibition of cytolysis. These results suggest that: CTL clones that are resistant to inhibition by anti-T3 antibodies actually have a physical and functional association between the T3 complex and the TcR; and the ability to demonstrate a functional role for T3 by antibody blocking may, in some cases, require limiting the involvement of the T11 molecule in CTL-target interactions. The most likely explanation for the observed heterogeneity in susceptibility to blocking by anti-T3 antibodies is, therefore, thought to be that individual CTL clones possess TcR with differential avidity for specific targets.

Lysis of bystander target cells after triggering of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Human cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for class I HLA antigens were used to investigate whether triggering of CTL leads to killing of innocent bystander target cells. After triggering of CTL by their specific target cells, lysis of bystander targets was detected in a 7-h cytotoxicity assay. Considerable differences were found in the susceptibility of various target cells to this type of lysis. Targets susceptible to this bystander lysis were also susceptible to lysis by CTL triggered by F(ab')2 fragments of an anti-T3 monoclonal antibody, whereas other targets were resistant to both types of cytotoxicity. Triggering of CTL by oxidized target cells or via a T3-independent activation pathway led to bystander lysis detectable already after 4 h. Bystander lysis was considerably enhanced under conditions that facilitated a non-specific cell contact between CTL and bystander target. We conclude that a function besides antigen recognition of the T cell receptor on CTL is to direct killing to the target cell. This directing, however, is incomplete and destruction of innocent bystanders can be detected under appropriate conditions.

Triggering of the lethal hit in human cytotoxic T lymphocytes: a functional role for a 103-kDa T cell-specific activation antigen

A monoclonal antibody (CB.1) is described that defines a new triggering signal for human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The antibody precipitates a 103-kDa surface antigen from activated normal human T cells. The antigen is undetectable or present in only low amounts on resting T lymphocytes but its expression increases strongly after activation and proliferation on T4+ and T8+ T lymphocytes. Binding of antibody CB.1 to CTL results in triggering of the lethal hit. This induction of cytotoxicity is dependent on cross-linking of CTL and an Fc receptor-bearing target cell with CB.1 and requires Ca2+ like antigen-specific triggering. CB.1-induced triggering can be specifically inhibited by binding of antibodies to the T8 or T4 molecules on T8+ or T4+ CTL.

Alloantigen recognition is preceded by nonspecific adhesion of cytotoxic T cells and target cells

T-cell receptors bind antigens only when the antigens are exposed on the cell surface. This can be studied best in the interaction of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) with target cells because the recognition and binding event can be separated from the lytic phase. Studies with CTL clones specific for HLA-A2 and HLA-B7 demonstrated that conjugates of CTL's and target cells can be formed in the absence of specific antigen recognition. Furthermore, T-cell receptor and target antigen cannot interact unless there is conjugate formation. This indicates that nonspecific conjugate formation between CTL's and target cells precedes the recognition of specific antigen by the T-cell receptor.