Immune recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes of minor histocompatibility antigens expressed on a murine colon carcinoma line

We have characterized in vivo and in vitro responses of mice to the BALB/c-derived carcinoma, C26. BALB/c mice were highly susceptible, in a dose-dependent fashion, to local tumor development following subcutaneous injection of C26. Other strains of mice, including allogeneic strains and major histocompatibility complex compatible strains of different minor histocompatibility (H) backgrounds, were resistant to C26-induced tumors. The basis for resistance of mice to C26 was studied using an in vitro-derived C26 line as target cells in microcytotoxicity assays, and as a source of antigen for in vivo priming. An H-2d-specific alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line was isolated from C57BL/6 mice primed with C26, demonstrating the expression, and immune recognition, of MHC class I antigens on C26. C26 also expressed minor H antigens of BALB background as demonstrated by the ability of CTL specific for BALB minor H antigens to selectively lyse C26. Conversely, minor H antigens on C26 were immunogenic across a minor H barrier as demonstrated by the ability to raise anti-minor H CTL to C26 from minor H disparate strains. Collectively, those experiments indicate that C26 may be useful for immunologic and biochemical studies of murine minor H antigens, and for in vivo and in vitro studies of local immunity.