B cell lymphomas of C57L/J mice; the role of natural killer cells and T helper cells in lymphoma development and growth

The Hodgkin's-like Type B neoplasms which arise spontaneously in aging C57L mice (25% incidence at 21 months of age) were first reported over 40 years ago, but since then relatively little has been published about these lymph omas. Based on previous studies in SJL mice, we investigated the phenotypic and functional properties of C57L-derived lymphomas in relation to Mtv29-e ncoded vSAg expression by the tumor cells, and their ability to stimulate T CR VP-restricted T cells. The cell surface phenotype of the C57L lymphomas indicates a B cell origin (sIg(+), MHC II+). These B lymphoma cells also ex press co-stimulatory molecules [B7-1 (CD80) and HSA (CD24)], and stimulate marked proliferation of syngeneic CD4(+) T cells. C57L B lymphoma cells exh ibit Mtv-encoded mRNA by northern analysis, and also stimulate IL-2 product ion from V beta 16(+) T cell hybrids, suggesting a role for Mtv 29 in this syngeneic T cell response. After transfer to syngeneic recipients, primary C57L lymphomas grow slowly, if at all. However, tumor growth is greatly acc elerated by pretreatment of C57L recipients with anti-asialo GM1 antibody ( but not anti-CD8 mAb). suggesting that NK cells play a major role in inhibi ting lymphoma growth. If, in addition to anti-asialo GM1, the mice are also pretreated with anti-CD4 mAb, tumor growth is markedly inhibited, indicati ng that the lymphoma-responsive syngeneic CD4(+) T cells promote tumor grow th. Therefore, although the vSAg-induced response stimulated by vSAg29 expr essing lymphoma cells in syngeneic TCR V beta-restricted CD4(+) T cells is an important etiologic factor in this type of B cell neoplasm both in C57L and in SJL mice, the final outcome of the spontaneous neoplastic process ap pears strongly influenced by endogenous NK activity in aging mice. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.