The T-cell receptor: just another hypothesis.

Functional activities of T and B lymphocytes and the kinetics of hematopoietic stem cells were studied in mice with inoculated or spontaneous tumors. The development and growth of the tumor inhibited B cells and helper T cells, while the activity of killer T cells and spleen suppressor cells was markedly enhanced. The processes of stem cell migration from the bone marrow were considerably intensified and altered in tumor-bearing mice. Data were obtained suggesting that helper T cells and killer T cells represent nonidentical compartments within the population of thymus-dependent lymphocytes. Immunosuppression during tumor bearing is probably due to an impairment of T lymphocytes cooperating in immune responses, B-lymphocytes and their precursors.