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γ-Irradiation facilitates the expression of adoptive immunity against established tumors by eliminating suppressor T cells

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Summary

It was found that sublethal (550 rad) whole-body γ-irradiation of mice bearing established immunogenic tumors enabled tumor-sensitized spleen cells infused intravenously 1 h later to cause complete tumor regression in all mice. In contrast, γ-irradiation alone caused only a temporary halt in tumor growth, and immune cells gave practically no therapeutic effect at all. This result was obtained with the SA1 sarcoma, Meth A fibrosarcoma, P815 mastocytoma, and P388 lymphoma. Additional experiments with the Meth A fibrosarcoma revealed that the spleen cells from tumor-immune donors that caused tumor regression in γ-irradiated recipients were T cells, as evidenced by their functional elimination by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody and complement. It was shown next that adoptive T-cell-mediated regression of tumors in γ-irradiated recipients was inhibited by an intravenous infusion of spleen cells from donors with established tumors, but not by spleen cells from normal donors. The spleen cells that suppressed the expression of adoptive immunity were functionally eliminated by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody and complement. Moreover, they were destroyed by exposing the tumor-bearing donors to 500 rad of γ-radiation 24 h before harvesting their spleen cells. The results are consistent with the interpretation that γ-radiation facilitates the expression of adoptive T-cell-mediated immunity against established tumors by eliminating a population of tumor-induced suppressor T cells from the tumor-bearing recipient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trudeau Institute, Inc., P.O. Box 59, 12983, Saranac Lake, NY, USA

    Robert J. North

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  1. Robert J. North
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Additional information

Supported by Grants CA-16642 and CA-27794 from the National Cancer Institute, a Grant-in-Aid from R. J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. and Grant RR-05705 from the Division of Research Resources, NIH

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North, R.J. γ-Irradiation facilitates the expression of adoptive immunity against established tumors by eliminating suppressor T cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 16, 175–181 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205425

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205425

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