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In Vitro and in Vivo Interaction between Murine Fibrosarcoma Cells and Natural Killer Cells¹

Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Murine fibrosarcoma cells were examined for sensitivity to killing by natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic lymphocytes from mouse spleens. These tumor cell lines were sensitive to killing by effector cells which were nonadherent to plastic or nylon wool, Thy-1 negative, asialo-GM₁ negative, and present in the spleens of beige mice, nude mice, and A/J mice, as well as in the spleens of normal syngeneic and allogeneic control mice. This indicates that the cytotoxic effects were due to natural cytotoxic lymphocytes rather than to NK lymphocytes, T-cells, or macrophages. Although the fibrosarcoma cells were not killed in vitro by endogenous NK cells, these tumor cells were able to "cold target" compete for Yac-1 (an NK-sensitive target) killing and to bind to asialo-GM₁-positive, nonadherent spleen lymphocytes in a target cell binding assay. This suggests that the fibrosarcoma cells were recognized by NK cells. In addition, these cell lines were killed in a 4-h NK cytotoxicity assay by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-activated effector lymphocytes. The interaction between NK cells and the murine fibrosarcoma cells may have in vivo significance. When syngeneic mice were treated with anti-asialo-GM₁ serum to eliminate NK activity and then given i.v. injections of the fibrosarcoma cells, many more lung tumors developed than in control animals. The structural basis for the recognition of the murine fibrosarcoma cells by the NK effector cells is not known. However, laminin may be involved. When the fibrosarcoma cells, which have receptors for the laminin molecule, were preincubated with laminin, they were reduced in their ability to compete for the killing of Yac-1 cells by the NK effectors and had reduced capacity to bind to NK cells in a target cell binding assay.

¹ This study was supported in part by Grant CA36132 from the USPHS and by Grant IM-432 from the American Cancer Society.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 9/11/85. Revised 2/24/86. Accepted 4/ 1/86.