Cell‐mediated immune reaction against tumors induced by oncornaviruses. III. Studies by mixed lymphocyte—tumor reaction

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Abstract
A one way mixed lymphocyte—tumor‐cell reaction (MLTR)‐was applied to the study of anti‐tumor cell‐mediated immunity in MSV‐infected mice. No stimulation of normal, non‐immune lymphocytes by tumor cells was observed. Lymphoid cells which can be stimulated in vitro by various tumor cells of the same antigenic specificity as MSV‐induced tumor cells were detected in the spleen and lymph nodes of MSV‐infected mice. These “responder cells” were only found before the appearance of the tumor, and at a time (3 to 7 days after MSV inoculation) when no cytotoxic cells can be detected in the chromium‐51 release test (CRT). The reactivity of responder cells declines rapidly and remains undetectable thereafter, both when palpable tumors and cytotoxic cells are present and after tumor rejection, when none or very few CRT‐killer cells are active. An inverse relationship between responder cells in MLTR and killer cells in CRT was also detected after allogeneic immunization; its significance is briefly discussed.