Regulation of myeloma growth in vitro by idiotype-specific T lymphocytes

J Immunol. 1980 Jan;124(1):424-30.

Abstract

Spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with purified BALB/c myeloma protein (MP) caused idiotype-specific suppression of DNA synthesis and colony formation by myeloma cells in vitro. Lymphocytes from mice immunized with 315-MP inhibited only MOPC-315 plasmacytoma cells; conversely, lymphocytes from mice immunized with 167-MP inhibited only MOPC-167 plasmacytoma cells. Antisera from those mice that showed cell-mediated inhibition of myeloma growth had no significant effect. The suppressive activity of the spleen cells was markedly reduced by treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 and complement, and the immune cells responsible for the suppression did not adhere to nylon wool. The suppressor cells adsorbed to myeloma protein-coated plates, and after elution, inhibited myeloma cells specifically at a 1:1 effector to target cell ratio. Suppression of myeloma growth was due to cytostatic rather than cytolytic effects. These findings suggest that mice immunized with purified myeloma protein have idiotype-specific T cells that can regulate myeloma cell growth. This mechanism may provide an explanation for the transplantation resistance to myelomas induced by immunization with myeloma protein. Similar idiotype-specific T cells may also play a role in the idiotype-specific regulation of immune responses by acting late in differentiation to block the proliferation of antibody-secreting normal B cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / pharmacology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • Clone Cells / immunology
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin Idiotypes*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Myeloma Proteins / immunology*
  • Plasmacytoma / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Thymidine / metabolism

Substances

  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Immunoglobulin Idiotypes
  • Myeloma Proteins
  • Complement System Proteins
  • Thymidine