Granulomatous inflammations in schistosomiasis mansoni are the result of T-cell-mediated reactions to soluble egg antigens (SEA) secreted by parasite ova. To study TDH effector cell function, a granuloma T-cell line was established from collagenase-digested liver granulomas of acutely infected CBA/J mice. Dispersed nonadherent granuloma cells were cultured with feeder layer cells and SEA or with feeder layer cells alone in alternate cycles for 32 weeks. The granuloma T-cell line was L3T4+ Lyt-1+. In vitro, the SEA-stimulated T cells showed proliferation and interleukin 2 production. One million T cells adoptively transferred SEA-specific footpad swelling, and 7.5 X 10(6) T cells adoptively transferred granulomatous hypersensitivity to injected ova or SEA-coated beads. Anti-L3T4 monoclonal antibody blocked the SEA-specific cell proliferation. Depletion of L3T4+ cells abrogated, while that of Lyt-1+ cells diminished the adoptive transfer of SEA-specific footpad swelling. These experiments demonstrate that the granuloma T-lymphocyte population contains TDH-type effector cells. Establishment of an SEA-specific granuloma T-cell line will allow the study of the effector functions of the hitherto uncharacterized intralesional granuloma T lymphocyte.