Studies of lymphocyte stimulation by intact tumor-cell and solubilized tumor antigen.
BALB/c mice were rendered immune to syngeneic SV40-induced sarcoma by subcutaneous injection of mKSA-TU5 tissue-culture adapted cells. Spleen cells from immune mice were examined for tumor-cell neutralization in the Winn assay as well as in in vitro lymphocyte stimulation assays. A microculture (200 mul) lymphocyte stimulation (LS) assay utilizing immune spleen cells was employed with mixed lymphocyte/tumor-cell cultures (MLTC) and the papain crude soluble (CS) extracts from mKSA-TU5 cells. Specificity in the LS assay was determined using spleen cells from mice immune to other syngeneic tumors and by soluble antigenic preparation of normal BALB/c spleen cells. The Winn assay studies demonstrated that spleen cells from mKSA-sensitized mice neutralized mKSA tumor cells and this was corroborated by their resistance to direct tumor challenge. Positive lymphocyte transformation responses in MLTC were observed when mKSA-TU5-sensitized spleen cells were mixed with mitocycin-C-treated intact tumor cells or when papain-solubilized antigens of mKSA cells were employed, but not with non-immune spleen cells or with a soluble antigen from normal cells. Papain-solubilized antigen preparations employed in in vitro assays also immunized against challenge with mKSA tumor cells. Specificity of these lymphocyte transformation reactions was demonstrated with non-sensitized lymphoid cells or lymphoid cells from mice sensitized with a syngeneic Kirsten virus-induced respond. Thus, mKSA tumor surface antigens were recognized on intact tumor cells or with microgram quantities of papain-solubilized extracts from these tumor cells. We believe the lymphocyte stimulation assay affords a method for demonstrating the presence of tumor-specific antigen and for monitoring further purification procedures.
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D013539:Simian virus 40
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes