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Stimulation of Tumor Cell Growth in Humans by a Mononuclear Cell-derived Factor

Radiobiology Laboratory, Department of Radiotherapy [G. S., P. V.], and Institute of Clinical Immunology [B. M. S.], University of Berne, Inselspital, Haus 28 d, 3010 Berne, Switzerland

Serum-free supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures significantly stimulated [³H]thymidine incorporation of human hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic tumor cell lines. For assay we used a low number of tumor cells per well and medium enriched with dithiothreitol-treated fetal calf serum. The growth-stimulatory activity was detected in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture within the first 24 h and decreased thereafter. Treatment of mononuclear cells with OKT3 monoclonal antibodies and rabbit complement decreased only moderately the factor production while treatment with anti-Leu-M2 and rabbit complement decreased it significantly. Supernatants of concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures enhanced nonsignificantly [³H]thymidine incorporation by tumor cell cultures unless antibodies against tumor necrosis factor and -interferon were added to the supernatants. Growth-stimulatory activity was heat inactivated partially at 60°C and totally at 80°C. It was abolished at pH 2.5 within 2 h as well as by treatment with dithiothreitol and partially lost by dialysis.

¹ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 3/ 1/88. Revised 6/10/88. Accepted 7/ 1/88.