Specificities of Killing by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes Generated in Vivo and in Vitro to Syngeneic SV40 Transformed Cells

Abstract

Cell-mediated immunity to SV40-transformed C3H and C3H·SW cell lines was measured by using both ⁵¹Cr and ¹²⁵IUdR release assays. Killing by cytotoxic cells generated on in vitro sensitization of immune spleen cells with syngeneic SV40 cells by either assay is specific for syngeneic SV40 transformants. Cytolysis mediated by in vitro sensitized cells is ablated by treatment of the effector cells with anti-θ serum and complement. Intraperitoneal immunization with syngeneic SV40 cells yields two distinct killer-cell populations in the peritoneal exudate when assayed by ¹²⁵IUdR release. The first, nylon wool nonadherent and sensitive to anti-θ and complement, is indistinguishable from the killers generated in vitro. The second population, present in larger numbers and more efficient on a per-cell basis in killing of SV40 targets than the first, is nylon adherent and is not removed by treatment with anti-θ and complement. This second population will kill any SV40 transformed target, whether syngeneic or allogeneic. The possible roles of T cell and non-T cell effectors in rejection of syngeneic SV40 tumors are discussed.