DAMSELFISH WITH NEUROFIBROMATOSIS EXHIBIT CYTOTOXICITY TOWARDS RETROVIRUS INFECTED-CELLS

Lymphocytes from tumor-bearing damselfish are cytotoxic towards target cell lines derived from damselfish neurofibromatosis, These cell line s contain at least one retrovirus which appears to be related to the e tiology of the disease. The current studies were designed to character ize the effecters of this cytotoxic reaction, Data presented here show that cells separated using an antibody (5C6.10.4) directed towards no n-specific cytotoxic cells of catfish sequesters all antitumor activit y in the 5C6.10.4 negative population, Thus, damselfish 5C6.10.4 posit ive cells bind to tumor targets, but do not contribute to target cell death, In contrast, 5C6.10.4 positive cells are cytotoxic towards xeno geneic erythrocytes. Cytotoxicity of splenocytes from animals inoculat ed with virus purified from the 88-503 cell line suggested that prior exposure to the retrovirus enhanced reactivity, especially towards 88- 503. In addition, cytotoxicity was significantly greater in tumor homo genate injected animals that resisted tumor development for more than 5 months as compared to those that developed tumors quickly. Lastly, c ytotoxic responsiveness towards primary cultures of mock and virus inf ected autologous and allogeneic cells implies that the cytotoxic effec tor is directed towards retrovirus infected cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Ltd.