title: Immune response to murine neuroblastoma: effects of in vitro culture of the tumor. Mitogen and mixed lymphocyte culture responses, interleukin-2 production, suppression and natural killer activity.
abstract: The cellular immune response in A/J mice inoculated with in vitro cultured neuroblastoma (NB) cells is completely different from the response obtained after inoculation of in vivo passaged NB cells. Indeed, inoculation of in vivo grown tumor cells leads to a strongly decreased MLC and PHA response of the host spleen cells. This depressed response is not reversed by in vitro addition of indomethacin, but correlates with a low IL-2 production by the spleen cells. In addition, non-specific suppressor cells are present in the spleen and in the peritoneal cavity. The splenic suppressor cells are of low specific gravity and they are nylon wool adherent. The suppressor capacity is not reduced by anti-Thy plus rabbit complement treatment. Another effect of in vivo maintained NB cells is that the natural killer (NK) activity of the spleen cells of the host is increased 4-5 fold 2 days after inoculation of the tumor cells. On the contrary, in vitro passaged NB cells do not induce a reduced MLC and PHA responsiveness, and the IL-2 production of the host spleen cells remains nearly normal. No non-specific suppression can be demonstrated and the NK activity is not augmented 2 days after inoculation. We can conclude that it is very important in which condition tumor cells are maintained when used to study anti-tumor immunity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000145:classification; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000276:immunology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000276:immunology*; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins