Characterization of SJL T cell clones responsive to syngeneic lymphoma (RCS): RCS-specific clones are stimulated by activated B cells

To gain insight into the nature of the syngeneic T cell-stimulating molecules on SJL lymphoma cells (RCS), a panel of eight Ly-1+2- T cell clones that are specific for transplantable RCS has been generated. All of these clones proliferate vigorously in response to two independent RCS lines and to LPS-activated syngeneic or F1 B cell blasts, but not to unstimulated SJL spleen cells or to allogeneic B cell blasts. Only one RCS-specific clone displays a proliferative response to (SJL X BALB/c) resting spleen cells, suggesting that I-E molecules are not the source of stimulation of RCS-responsive cells. Responses of the T cell clones to both RCS and syngeneic LPS-activated B cells are inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to I-A antigens, and not by antibody to I-E antigens. These findings suggest that RCS-responsive T cells are stimulated either by syngeneic I-As alone, in a form expressed on activated B cells, or by I-As in combination with X, where X is a cell surface antigen present on B cells at certain stages of differentiation.     

Ia-restricted interaction between normal lymphoid cells and SJL lymphoma (RCS) leading to lymphokine production. I. Enhancement and suppression of antibody formation to TI antigens by supernatants and cells from cocultures of RCS and lymphoid cells

Addition of gamma-irradiated reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) cells causes suppression of the antibody response to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-primed syngeneic SJL spleen cells to TNP-polyacrylamide (PAA) in vitro. The response of anti-brain antigen (BAT) + C-treated spleen cells is not suppressed by gamma-RCS, but is suppressed by cells from 48-hr SJL lymph node or thymus + gamma-RCS cultures. Addition of as few as 2.5 x 10(5) cultured (anti-I-A + C treated to remove gamma-RCS) cells causes significant inhibition of the responses of both syngeneic and allogeneic spleen cells. Treatment of gamma-RCS-induced suppressor cells with anti-BAT + C reduces their suppressive activity. In contrast to the cells, supernatants (SN) from (lymph node (LN) + gamma-RCS) cultures greatly enhance, in an antigen-dependent fashion, the responses of untreated or anti-BAT + C-treated Sephadex G10-passed spleen cells to TNP-PAA. TNP-SIII polysaccharide, or TNP-Ficoll, but not as much to TNP-KLH. Addition of SN as late as Day 3 of culture still causes about half as much enhancement as leaving SN in throughout the culture period, but it has no effect if left with the spleen cells for only the first day of culture. SN contains high levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma; absorption with cells from an IL-2-dependent cytotoxic T-cell line removes the enhancing activity, while treatment with pH 2 to remove the IFN-gamma has no effect. SN from an IL-2-producing T-cell line (LBRM-33) has a similar effect on antibody production to TI antigens as does SN of (LN + gamma-RCS). The results suggest a marked dependency of PFC responses to TI antigen on IL-2 in all strains examined, including SJL, LAF1, DBA/2Ha, and CBA/N, probably through a direct activation of B cells. The findings also suggest that suppressor T cells, induced by gamma-RCS in syngeneic lymphoid cells, absorb the IL-2 needed for responses to TI antigens in vitro.     

Subpopulations of human T lymphocytes. II. Effect of thymopoietin, corticosteroids, and irradiation.

Lymphoid cells from normal SJL/J mice gave high proliferative responses but failed to develop cytotoxic activity to γ-irradiated cells from syngeneic transplantable reticulum cell sarcomas (X-RCS). In spite of a vigorous in vivo proliferative response to X-RCS, cytotoxic activity was never generated to detectable levels in vivo. After repeated injections of X-RCS, spleen and, to a lesser degree, lymph node cells acquired the ability to give moderate secondary cytotoxic responses in vitro upon co-culture with X-RCS. This immunity was T-cell mediated and specific for RCS although it did not distinguish between different transplantable RCS lines. SJL/J mice also developed resistance to RCS growth after injection of X-RCS, which showed a transient RCS-line-specific component. (SJL/J × C₅₇B1/6)F₁ mice showed 60% less RCS growth than did SJL/J mice, and their lymphoid cells gave slightly lower proliferative responses than did cells from SJL/J mice, whereas (SJL/J × BALB/c)F₁ mice showed little tumor growth, and their spleen cells proliferated only minimally to X-RCS. B10.S mice allowed moderate RCS growth. Cytotoxic activity was generated in co-cultures with X-RCS of immunized F₁ spleen cells even after a single immunization in vivo but not in cultures of normal F₁ cells with X-RCS.     

Characterization of the molecules on SJL/J lymphomas which stimulate syngeneic T cells

I-A antigens isolated from SJL reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) cells show greater heterogeneity with respect to charge and size of the A alpha chains than do I-A antigens isolated from normal SJL spleen cells. The relevance of these structural changes in RCS I-A to the previously shown syngeneic T cell stimulatory properties of RCS was investigated. It was shown that RCS cells expressed acidic forms of the A alpha chain on their cell surface which were not present on SJL spleen cells, peritoneal cells, or dendritic cells. The only normal cells which showed A alpha chain heterogeneity approaching that of RCS cells were LPS-induced B cell blasts. Treatment with tunicamycin completely abolished the RCS A alpha chain heterogeneity, whereas exposure to neuraminidase removed the charge heterogeneity, but not the size heterogeneity. Parallel studies of the syngeneic T cell proliferative response to RCS showed that tunicamycin abolished, while neuraminidase enhanced, the ability of RCS cells to stimulate syngeneic T cells. It is suggested that polysaccharide chains on RCS I-A molecules are particularly important for the biologic properties of these lymphoma cells. The possibility that highly glycosylated I-A antigens on normal B cell blasts are also involved in the stimulation of syngeneic T cells is discussed.     

The in vivo depletion of V beta 17a+ T cells results in the inhibition of reticulum cell sarcoma growth in SJL/J mice. Evidence for the use of anticlonotypic antibody therapy in the control of malignancy

Previous findings revealed that reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) of SJL/J mice growth and survival depended on its ability to stimulate a potent host T cell response, by the means of a tumor-associated class II MHC molecule with IE-like specificities. Previously we presented evidence that the V beta 17a TCR+ clonotype of T cell was the predominant T cell involved in the host response to the tumor. We undertook our study to examine whether the depletion of the V beta 17a+ T cells, by the use of the anticlonotypic antibody, KJ23a, resulted in the inhibition of RCS tumor growth in vivo. We present evidence herein that supports this hypothesis. KJ23a-treated mice exhibited a complete reduction in T cells bearing the V beta 17a TCR. These mice exhibited a dramatic reduction in the in vitro proliferative response to RCS. Furthermore, the pretreatment of SJL/J mice with KJ23a mAb resulted in the complete loss in their ability to harbor RCS tumor. When tumor-bearing mice were treated with a single inoculum of KJ23a mAb within the first 7 days after the passage of tumor, the mice showed long term survival with diminishing tumor burden. These results demonstrated that the V beta 17a clonotype of T cells is required for the growth and maintenance of RCS tumor. Within the first 6 wk after tumor inoculation KJ23a-treated mice were capable of transferring tumor to naive syngeneic recipient mice despite the obvious lack of tumor growth in the treated donor animal. These results suggested that RCS tumors in the absence of V beta 17a+ T cells can persist for up to 6 wk in a state of "tumor dormancy." The predominant usage of the V beta 17a gene in RCS-specific T cells suggests that these T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of RCS tumor. Furthermore, the positive therapeutic course taken by tumor-bearing mice upon the treatment with KJ23a mAb, demonstrates the enormous potential in anticlonotypic antibody therapy in the treatment of T cell-dependent tumors and diseases.     

Properties of reticulum cell sarcomas in SJL/J mice. VII. Nature of normal lymphoid cells proliferating in response to tumor cells.

Treatment of SJL lymph node, spleen, and thymus cells with anti-Ly 1.2 serum and C caused a marked reduction in the usually observed T-cell proliferation in response to syngeneic X-irradiated transplantable reticulum cell sarcoma cells. By contrast, treatment of lymphoid cells with anti-Ly 2.2 serum and C either failed to affect or increased the proliferative response. It is concluded that the Ly 1 cell is the major T-cell subpopulation which proliferates in response to RCS.     

Suppression of spontaneous reticulum cell sarcoma development and of syngeneic stimulator cell by anti-mu treatment of SJL/J mice

The cellular origin of reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) in SJL/J mice was studied by comparing the incidence of spontaneous RCS in control mice and in mice suppressed with goat anti-mu Ig from birth on. At 10 months of age anti-mu suppressed mice had 0% RCS as opposed to 60% in control mice. Growth of two i.v. injected transplantable RCS lines in anti-mu suppressed mice was approximately 60% as compared with growth in normal SJL/J mice. Proliferative responses of thymus and lymph node cells from anti-mu suppressed mice to RCS, mitomycin-treated syngeneic spleen cells (M. Spl.) Con A, and PHA were entirely normal. However, M. Spl. from anti-mu suppressed mice caused minimal or no stimulation of T cells from normal or anti-mu suppressed responders. The results suggest that the normal syngeneic stimulator cell is of B cell origin, either representing a direct precursor of RCS or indirectly influencing RCS appearance. A B cell origin of RCS is, furthermore, in agreement with some of its characteristics, such as surface markers (Ia antigens, Ly b) and in vivo localization properties.     

Regulation of Ia+ reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) growth in syngeneic SJL/J mice. I. Inhibition of tumor growth by passive administration of L3T4 monoclonal antibody before or after tumor inoculation

Spontaneously arising reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) tumors in SJL/J mice stimulate syngeneic host T lymphocytes to proliferate and are dependent on host T cells for maintenance and growth. Tumor-associated Ia antigens have been implicated in the proliferative response both in vivo and in vitro, and the responding T cells are predominantly Lyt-1+2- L3T4+. We hypothesized that elimination or depletion of the responding L3T4 subpopulation in vivo should inhibit growth of transplantable RCS tumors, and continued RCS growth may be dependent on the continued presence of L3T4 cells. This hypothesis was tested experimentally by examining the effect of passive administration of L3T4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) into SJL/J mice either before or at different times after tumor inoculation. The tumor inoculum used killed all mice 15 to 30 days after injection. Administration of a single dose of L3T4 mAb 4 days before tumor inoculation resulted in complete depletion of L3T4 cells and complete inhibition of tumor growth. The antibody-treated mice survived with no sign of tumor growth even after complete recovery of L3T4+ cells. These results demonstrate that initiation of tumor growth is dependent on host L3T4+ cells. Administration of mAb as late as 7 days after tumor inoculation resulted in inhibition of tumor growth, and administration of mAb at day 10 resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth. Compared with the kinetics of tumor growth in normal control mice, administration of L3T4 after tumor inoculation results in tumor growth arrest. These findings demonstrate that continued tumor growth in vivo is dependent on the presence of L3T4+ cells. In the RCS system, the present studies show that administration of mAb to L3T4+ cells is therapeutic in that it inhibits the induction of tumor growth, and it also prevents tumor growth in tumor-bearing animals.     

Opsonization of tumor-reactive T cells in SJL/J mice bearing syngeneic tumors

Summary The role of antigen-reactive cell opsonization (ARCO) in a syngeneic tumor system and its effect on tumor progression was investigated. Thus, anti-tumor reactive T cells were prepared in vivo by immunization of normal SJL/J mice with mitomycin C-inactivated tumor cells of the syngeneic transplantable reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) line LA-6. Dividing cells were subsequently labeled by injecting iodo-2-deoxyuridine (¹²⁵IUdR) into the same animals 3 days later. Antigen-reactive cells (*ARC) present in the radiolabeled, nylon wool-fractionated spleen cell population taken from these mice on day 4 and injected IV into syngeneic SJL/J mice bearing LA-6 tumors were diverted to the liver and away from the spleen. The effect was maximal by 8 days following inoculation of tumor cells, and was specific inasmuch as ¹²⁵IUdR-labeled cells prepared by immunization with allogeneic spleen or tumor cells which were not opsonized in day-8 LA-6 tumor-bearing mice. Opsonization of *ARC in day-8 LA-6 tumor-bearing mice was completely abrogated by either prior injection of heat-aggregated immunoglobulin into the mice or preincubation of the *ARC in solubilized tumor antigen before injection into tumor-bearing mice, demonstrating the involvement of Fc receptors in the host and antigen-specific receptors on the *ARC, respectively, in the opsonizing process. When anti-LA-6 reactive T cells were incubated in serum from LA-6 tumor-bearing mice and then injected IV into normal syngeneic SJL/J mice, a similar liver diversion was observed. Serum from cyclophosphamide-pretreated mice injected with LA-6 or serum from mice given mitomycin C-inactivated LA-6 cells did not cause opsonization of tumor-reactive T cells, while a mixture of these two sera did have some *ARC opsonizing activity. Further experiments with SJL/J mice bearing spontaneous RCS tumor indicate that tumor-reactive T cells are also opsonized in these mice. The above studies and others suggested that ARCO may play an important role in vivo in the survival of tumors. Abbreviations used in this paper are: ARC, antigen-reactive cells; ARC, radiolabeled antigen-reactive cells; ARCO, antigen-reactive cell opsonization; LA-6 tumor line derived in our laboratory; L.I., localization index; PEG, polyethylene glycol; RCS, reticulum cell sarcoma; STA, soluble tumor antigen; TBS, tumor-bearer serum     

Antibody response to simian virus 40 tumor antigen in nude mice reconstituted with T cells.

Athymic BALB/c nude mice (nu/nu) fail to generate circulating antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40) tumor (T) antigen when immunized with SV40-transformed mouse cells or with T antigen positive somatic cell hybrids derived from SV40-transformed human and normal mouse parental cells. However, normal BALB/c mice readily produce antibodies to SV40 T antigen. When nude mice were reconstituted with normal syngeneic T lymphocytes from spleen or thymus source, the humoral immune responsiveness to SV40 T antigen was restored.     

Properties of reticulum cell sarcomas in SJL/J mice

While T cells from SJL and from F₁ hybrids of SJL that do not express I-E antigens give strong proliferative responses to RCS, T cells from F₁ hybrids expressing surface I-E do not. The nature of the stimulating antigen on the RCS cell surface was examined using monoclonal antibodies. Complete inhibition of the T-cell proliferative response was obtained with antibodies to I-A antigens, whereas antibodies to I-E antigens did not inhibit at all. This inhibition was mediated via an effect of the antibodies on the stimulating cells. Biochemical characterization of immunoprecipitated ¹²⁵I- and 's S-labeled RCS antigens was performed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Using this technique, I-A antigens were readily detected. However, neither Ia.7-specific antibodies nor antibodies specific for E_α : E _β complexes precipitated any E alpha or E beta chains. Comparison of I-A antigens from RCS and normal SJL spleen cells revealed minor mobility differences in the gels, possibly due to differences in glycosylation, the significance of which needs to be further evaluated. Examination of RNA extracted from RCS, using E alpha and A alpha cDNA probes showed that RCS cells do not transcribe the E alpha gene as has been shown previously for normal H-2 ^s cells. Furthermore, DNA from RCS cells showed a defect in the E alpha gene similar to that known to exist in normal H-2 ^s cells. Our findings exclude the presence of E alpha on RCS cells and suggest a major role for I-A, either alone or in conjunction with another as yet unidentified cell surface antigen, in the stimulation of T cells.     

Characterization and growth factor requirements of SJL lymphomas. I. Development of a B cell growth factor-dependent in vitro cell line, cRCS-X

Reticulum cell sarcomas (RCS) of SJL mice are completely dependent on host cells for their growth and therefore fail to grow in vitro. RCS cells induce marked proliferation in SJL Ly-1+2- T cells accompanied by lymphokine production. In an attempt to fully understand the host-tumor cell interaction, an RCS cell line, cRCS-X, was established in vitro from a transplantable tumor by the addition, every 3 wk, of gamma-irradiated syngeneic lymph node (LN) cells to the culture. cRCS-X maintains all of the characteristics of the parent tumor, RCS-X, including cell surface phenotype (Ks and I-As positive, Ds negative and B cell marker 14.8 positive), ability to stimulate host T cells, and ability to grow in nonirradiated but not in gamma-irradiated SJL mice. The growth factor requirements of cRCS-X were examined. It was found that human BCGF can replace gamma-irradiated LN cells in the maintenance of long term in vitro growth of cRCS-X. cRCS-X cells respond to human B cell growth factor (BCGF) or to recombinant murine interleukin (IL)-5 in a short term proliferation assay [( 3H]thymidine incorporation) in a dose-dependent manner in the presence and absence of fetal calf serum. BCGF also promotes colony formation in soft agar by cRCS-X cells. Although both IL-1 and interferon-gamma can synergize with BCGF in the induction of cRCS-X proliferation, these lymphokines, as well as IL-2, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IL-4 have no effect on cRCS-X growth when added alone. In addition, it was shown that SJL LN cells produce both IL-4 and BCGF II activities as assayed on murine B cells, after stimulation with gamma-irradiated cRCS-X cells. In light of these results it is postulated that IL-5, [corrected] produced by syngeneic T cells [corrected] after stimulation with RCS, is essential for RCS growth, both in vitro and in vivo.     

Mapping of SJL/J reticulum cell sarcoma tumor-associated Ia antigens by T cell hybridomas: characterization of tumor-specific and shared epitopes detected on IE+ allogeneic cells

Previous studies have suggested that reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) tumor cells of SJL/J (IA + IE-) mice express neospecificities that are related to antigenic specificities characteristic of IE+ allogeneic cells. These neospecificities have also been suggested to play a role in the strong syngeneic antitumor proliferative response as well as in regulating RCS growth in vivo. The present studies characterize four RCS tumor-specific T cell hybridoma clones prepared from the fusion of BW5147 thymoma with T cells derived from lymph nodes of tumor-bearing mice. Upon stimulation, these hybridomas secrete IL 2 in the supernatant. Two hybridomas responded to RCS to IE+k and to IE+d allogeneic cells, respectively, and the other two hybridomas were tumor specific. The specificity of these hybridomas was assessed by response to both spontaneous and transplantable RCS lines and failure to stimulate a response by either normal or LPS-induced B cell blasts from the host SJL/J cells. The epitopes recognized by the T cell hybridomas were examined by the ability of several monoclonal antibodies to inhibit the IL 2-induced response by the T cell hybridomas. Antibodies directed against the IABs polypeptide of the IA hybrid molecule blocked the antitumor response by all four hybridomas. However, the response to allogeneic IE+ cells was not blocked by anti-IAs antibody but was blocked by antibodies directed against either the IAk,d or IEk,d hybrid molecules or the corresponding alpha- or beta-chains. The response to both RCS and allogeneic cells was blocked by monoclonal antibodies directed against L3T4 antigens on the T cells. Based on the exquisite specificity of the T cell receptors, the results here demonstrate that RCS tumor cells express on their surface both tumor-specific I-A-associated epitopes and Ia-associated antigenic specificities that are shared with IE+ allogeneic cells. The present studies of adapting T cell hybridomas and blocking antibodies proved useful to characterize and map distinct tumor-associated epitopes on the surface of tumor cells. These findings, when combined with structural studies, should help unravel the molecular complexity of tumor-associated antigens.     

Augmentation of syngeneic tumor-specific immunity by semiallogeneic cell hybrids

Hybrid cell lines were established from fusions between lipopolysaccharide- (LPS) stimulated C57BL/6J spleen cells and MPC-11 tumor cells (45.6TG1.7, abbreviated M45), and were tested for their ability to immunize semiallogeneic mice against a parental tumor challenge. These hybrids were tumorigenic in syngeneic (BALB/c X C57BL/6J) F1 (CB6F1) mice but did not grow in semiallogeneic (BALB/c X A/J) F1 (CAF1) mice. All hybrids express both parental major histocompatibility antigens (H-2b and H-2d) as detected by indirect immunofluorescence and by their ability to function as either stimulators or targets for allogeneic cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). M45 tumor-associated antigens (TAA) were expressed on the hybrid surface as shown by their ability to act as either stimulators or targets for syngeneic CTL specific for M45 TAA. Immunization of semiallogeneic CAF1 mice with the hybrids i.p. followed by a challenge with M45 tumor cells resulted in extended survival when compared to untreated mice or animals immunized i.p. with M45 tumor cells. This immunity was specific and was not due to an allogeneic effect; immunization with an unrelated H-2bd tumor, 70Z/3, or H-2bd B6D2F1 spleen cells or with semiallogeneic spleen cells plus M45 did not protect mice from M45 challenge. Interestingly, prophylactic priming with semiallogeneic hybrid tumor cells or parental myeloma cells led to M45-specific CTL and "help" for an in vitro CTL response; however, the degree of CTL priming by hybrid tumors was not augmented when compared to the level of CTL achieved with parental tumor alone. Hence, stimulation of CTL activity per se by hybrid tumor cells cannot explain the protective effect of hybrid tumor immunization. These studies nevertheless confirm that semiallogeneic hybrids, which we show express TAA and alloantigens, can be used to immunize mice against a lethal syngeneic myeloma tumor challenge.     

Neonatal tolerance induction in the thymus to MHC-class II-associated antigens. II. Significance of MHC antigens in anti-Mls tolerance

Specificity of anti-Mlsa tolerance induced in BALB/c (H-2d, Mlsb) neonates was investigated by a popliteal lymph node (PLN)-swelling assay for the local graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction by injecting tolerant thymus cells into the footpads of several types of F1 hybrid mice. When thymus cells were obtained from 1-week-old normal BALB/c, they evoked enlargement of PLNs of (BALB/c X DBA/2)F1 (H-2d, Mlsb/a) [CDF1] recipients and of other hybrid recipients, heterozygous in Mlsa,c,d alleles, irrespective of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes. The same thymus cells did not cause the response in MHC-heterozygous F1 hybrids when the hybrids were homozygous in Mlsb, identical with BALB/c mice. Therefore, the PLN response to Mls antigens, known to be closely associated with MHC-class II antigens, was not directed to the class II antigens themselves. This enabled us to examine the effects of MHC on tolerance induction to the Mls antigens. When BALB/c neonates were injected with CDF1 bone marrow cells, complete tolerance to Mlsa-H-2d antigens of CDF1 cells was induced in the thymus, while responsiveness to Mlsa antigens in the context of H-2k and H-2b antigens, was not affected. This indicates MHC-restriction of neonatal tolerance to Mls antigens. Furthermore, when Mls and H-2-heterozygous (BALB/c X AKR)F1 (H-2d/k, Mlsb/a) bone marrow cells served as the tolerogen, thymus cells of BALB/c neonates were also tolerized to Mlsa-H-2k antigens as well as to Mlsa-H-2d antigens, which suggests the involvement of MHC, probably class II antigens of tolerance-inducing cells.     

Characterization of a murine monoclonal antibody specific for an allotypic determinant on T cell antigen receptor

Repeated immunization of normal C57L/J (H-2b) mice with peripheral T cells from BALB.B (H-2b) mice results in the production of antibodies which react with the T cell receptor. A monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma, F23.1, was isolated from immunized C57L/J mice showing this property. This monoclonal antibody recognizes approximately 25% of peripheral T cells in BALB mice. It stains approximately the same fraction of T cells and precipitates the same heterodimer as the rat monoclonal antibody described previously that was made against isolated receptor material. The allotypic determinant recognized by this monoclonal antibody is present in most common laboratory strains (BALB, C57BL, CBA, A, DBA, C3H) and is absent in C57L, C57BR, and SJL mice. Sorting peripheral T cells from BALB.B or (SJL X BALB/c)F1 mice for the F23.1+ and F23.1- subsets revealed that both populations contain approximately the same CTL precursor frequency for alloantigen. Thus, the T cell receptor allotype defined by F23.1 is present on CTL. Furthermore, cytotoxicity mediated by an F23.1+ CTL line could be blocked specifically by the F23.1 monoclonal antibody. Under appropriate conditions, the monoclonal antibody F23.1 bound to Sepharose 4B beads can induce resting peripheral T lymphocytes of allotype-positive strains to proliferate.     

Clonal analysis of autoreactive B cells in a murine model of autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Hybridoma technology was used to examine the repertoire of autoantibody producing B cells in mice with autoimmune hemolytic anemia induced by injection of rat red blood cells (RBC). The results point to the importance of suppressor T cells (Ts) in both the induction as well as the maintenance of the self-specific B-cell repertoire at the clonal level. Thus when normal BALB/c mice were immunized to provoke a high autoantibody response, the hybrids generated were mainly (97%) cross-reactive with mouse RBC, whereas after immunization to elicit Ts and a low autoantibody response, hybrids were mainly (87%) rat RBC specific. In addition, when hybrids were generated from rat RBC immunized (CBA X B10A)F1 mice, in which Ts levels had been depleted during ontogeny, hybrids with "forbidden" purely anti-self (mouse RBC) specificity were detected.     

Expression of alien histocompatibility antigens on SJL/J tumors detected by cell-mediated and serological analyses

Summary Reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) cells of SJL/J (H-2^s) mice have been shown to express antigens that are cross-reactive with allogeneic cells of the H-2^d and H-2^b haplotypes by cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-mediated cytotoxicity, immunofluorescence, and quantitative absorption assays. These alien antigens have been detected on both spontaneous and in vivo- and in vitro-passaged RCS cells to varying degrees.The in vitro cell lines were able to stimulate a syngeneic cytotoxic T cell response detected in a 4-h ⁵¹Cr release assay. The cytotoxic cells reacted with in vitro RCS tumor targets but not with in vivo or spontaneous RCS tumors. Furthermore, the cytotoxic cells lysed H-2^d and to a lesser extent H-2^b target cells, but not H-2^k, H-2^p, or H-2^r cells. The cross-reactivity was also observed with SJL/J anti-BALB/c cytotoxic cells, which can lyse in vitro RCS targets effectively. The in vivo tumors were not stimulatory in cytotoxic responses and did not serve as targets.H-2^d specificities were also detected in cultured RCS tumor cells by cytotoxic antibody. Both allogeneic SJL/J anti-BALB/c, C57B1/6 anti-BALB/c sera reacted with RCS tumor cells and not normal SJL/J cells. Furthermore, monospecific D^d sera were also cytotoxic against RCS lines. The cytotoxic activity could be absorbed by BALB/c cells and RCS cells but not with normal SJL/J cells. The H-2^d specificities were also detected on the in vivo lines by indirect immunofluorescence. The majority (60%) of spontaneously arising tumors expressed either H-2^d or H-2^b allospecificities in the immunofluorescence assays. Although these antigens may not be inappropriate for the SJL/J strain, their differential expression on tumor cells may be significant in the etiology of the tumor.     

Appearance of the signs of stress in mice as affected by lymphoid cells from syngeneic hypokinetic animals

Lymphoid cells of the spleen were transferred from F1(CBA X C57BL/6) mice exposed to hypokinesia for 17 hours to unoperated and partially hepatectomized syngeneic recipients. It caused (on days 2, 3 and 7) changes in the body weight, thymus, spleen, adrenals and in proliferative activity of hepatocytes in the intact and regenerating liver, with these changes being similar to those induced by stress alone.     

Expression of a 16,000 molecular weight antigen on human suppressor T lymphocytes

When SJL mice are irradiated and reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow (XBM) they support growth of transplantable reticulum cell sarcoma to approximately 60% of that in normal mice. The ability to support RCS growth gradually improves with time after irradiation and reaches 90% of normal by 8–12 weeks. However, if the mice are thymectomized 4 weeks prior to treatment (Tx-XBM) they initially show 50% which increases to only 65% of growth in normal mice after 12 weeks. The ability of lymphoid cells from these mice to proliferate in vitro in response to irradiated RCS cells is normal 4 weeks after treatment in XBM, but remains <10% of normal in Tx-XBM mice. Nude mice of SJL background also show greatly diminished RCS growth. It is concluded that T cells promote RCS growth in vivo possibly via their tendency to proliferate upon exposure to RCS.