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Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a key role in adoptive cell therapy (ACT) by destroying tumor cells. Although some mechanisms of CTLs killing tumor cells have already been revealed, the precise dynamic information of CTLs’ interaction with tumor cells is still not known. Here, we used confocal microscopy to visualize the whole process of how CTLs kill tumor cells in vitro. According to imaging data, CTLs destroyed the target tumor cells rapidly and efficiently. Several CTLs surrounded one or more tumor cells, and the average time for CTLs destroying one or more tumor cells in vitro is dozens of minutes only. Our study displayed the temporal events of CTLs’ interaction with tumor cells at the beginning up to the point of killing them. Furthermore, the imaging data presented strong cytotoxicity of CTLs toward the specific tumor cells. These results could help us to well understand the mechanism of CTLs’ elimination of tumor cells and improve the efficacy of ACT in cancer immunotherapy.

Aims—To study the distribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) variants containing mutations in the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) oncogene and promoter in EBV associated Hodgkin's disease and infectious mononucleosis compared with previous findings in asymptomatic EBV carriers. Methods—Sequence analysis of the EBV LMP-1 promoter and gene in isolates from Danish patients with Hodgkin's disease (n = 61) and infectious mononucleosis (n = 10). Results—Viruses (previously designated group D) that contain two mutations in the activating transcription factor/cAMP response element (ATF/CRE) in the LMP-1 promoter, which are known to decrease promoter activity greatly, were significantly less frequent in Hodgkin's disease than in both infectious mononucleosis (p = 0.0081) and asymptomatic EBV carriers (p = 0.0084). In some cases, the LMP-1 gene contained mutations in a recently identified cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitope. Most viral isolates contained mutations shown to increase nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation and had one of two newly identified C-terminal activation regions 3 (CTAR-3) deleted. The exon 1 Xho-I restriction site in the LMP-1 gene could be lost through a range of different mutations. Conclusions—These findings indicate selection pressure against EBV strains with weak LMP-1 promoter activity in Hodgkin's disease and thus provide further strong circumstantial evidence for the pathogenic role of EBV (and LMP-1) in this disease. Mutation of the CTL epitope suggests immune selection of EBV strains. Many EBV isolates contain functionally important mutations in the LMP-1 gene. Loss of the Xho-I restriction site should not be used as a marker of specific LMP-1 variants.

The IL 2 receptor isolated from the IL 2-dependent CTL-L cell line was subjected to biochemical analysis. Pulse-chase and tunicamycin studies, as well as digestion with the endoglycosidases, Endo-F and Endo-H, of 35S-methionine-labeled IL 2 receptors suggested a single protein precursor of 32,000 (p32) daltons. The p32 precursor was rapidly processed by addition of high-mannose-containing core N-linked sugars to intracytoplasmic precursor intermediates of 38,000 (p38) and 40,000 (p40) daltons, which undergo further processing to yield a mature surface receptor with heterogeneous apparent m.w. of 52,000 to 65,000 (p58). Two-dimensional gel studies indicated that p58 exhibited broad charge heterogeneity between pH 4.6 and 6.3. Endo-F digestions of p58 shifted the isoelectric focus point to a more basic 5.5 to 7.4. This considerable charge heterogeneity is consistent with the possibility that other posttranslational modifications to the mouse IL 2 receptor occur besides addition of complex N-linked glycans. Immunoprecipitations of the IL 2 receptor from surface iodinated cells also revealed an additional band at 110,000 (p110) daltons. IEF vs SDS-PAGE two-dimensional gel studies demonstrated that p110 also had an isoelectric focus point identical to p58. Western blot studies with an anti-IL 2 receptor monoclonal antibody (7D4) demonstrated that p38, p40, p58, and p110 each expressed the epitope recognized by this antibody. Thus, it is likely that p110 is not a unique molecule that coprecipitates with the IL 2 receptor. Western blot analysis of mitogen-stimulated T and B lymphocytes also revealed bands similar to p58 and p110, although these bands had an average apparent m.w. 3000 to 6000 less than those seen for CTL-L cells.