Summary
T lymphocytes were isolated from ascitic fluid of three patients with ovarian carcinoma at III–IV stage. Surface markers analysis of such purified T cells revealed that T8+ cells were well represented among ascitic T lymphocytes (from 35 to 56%). Low percentages of activated T cells, as indicated by HLA-DR and TAC (interleukin-2 receptor) positivity, were also present. However, fresh ascitic T lymphocytes failed to lyse autologous tumor target cells in a 4-h51Cr release assay. Furthermore, by applying a limiting dilution microculture system that allows optimal conditions for cloning of human T lymphocytes, we derived clones from these populations. From 41 to 63% of clones so obtained had cytolytic activity in a lectin-dependent assay allowing detection of cytolytic T cells of any specificity. More importantly, in all three patients several clones were found to lyse autologous tumor target cells as well. Some of these clones have been studied in more detail: 9 out of 10 expressed the T8+/T4− phenotype, whereas only one was T8−/T4+; 6 out of 9 clones had a definite NK-like activity, while none of them lysed autologous PHA-lymphoblasts.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allavena P., Introna M., Sessa C., Mangioni C., Mantovani A.: Interferon effect on cytotoxicity of peripheral blood and tumor-associated lymphocytes against human ovarian carcinoma cells — J. nat. Cancer Inst.68, 555, 1982.
Badger A. M., Oh S. K., Moolten F. R.: Differential effects of an immunosuppressive fraction from ascites fluid of patients with ovarian cancer on spontaneous and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity — Cancer Res.41, 1133, 1981.
Delglish L., Jacobs A. J., Cohen C. J.: Histologic correlates of virulence in ovarian adenocarcinoma. II. Morphologic correlates of host response — Amer. J. Obstetr. Gynecol.144, 885, 1982.
Grimm E. A., Mazumder A., Zhang H. Z., Rosenberg S. A.: The lymphokine-activated killer cell phenomenon: lysis of NK-resistant fresh solid tumor cells by IL-2 activated autologous human peripheral blood lymphocytes — J. exp. Med.155, 1823, 1982.
Grimm E. A., Ramsey K. M., Mazumder A., Wilson D. J., Rosenberg S. A.: Lymphokine-activated killer cell phenomenon. II. Precursor phenotype is serologically distinct from peripheral blood T lymphocytes, memory cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes and natural killer cells — J. exp. Med.157, 884, 1983.
Haskill S., Becker S., Fowler W.: Mononuclear cell infiltration in ovarian cancer. I. Inflammatory cell infiltrates from tumour and ascites material — Brit. J. Cancer45, 728, 1982.
Malissen B., Rebai N., Liabeuf A., Mawas C.: Human cytotoxic T cell structures associated with expression of cytolysis. I. Analysis at the clonal level of the cytolysis inhibiting effect of 7 monoclonal antibodies — Europ. J. Immunol.12, 737, 1982.
Mantovani A., Allavena P., Sessa C., Bolis G., Mangioni C.: Natural killer activity of lymphoid cells isolated from ascitic ovarian tumors — Int. J. Cancer25, 573, 1980.
Moretta A., Mingari M. C., Haynes R. P., Sekaly R. P., Moretta L., Fauci A. S.: Phenotypic characterization of human cytolytic T lymphocytes generated in mixed lymphocyte culture — J. exp. Med.153, 213, 1981a.
Moretta A., Pantaleo G., Moretta L., Mingari M. C., Cerottini J. C.: Quantitative assessment of the pool size and subset distribution of cytolytic T lymphocytes within human resting or alloactivated peripheral blood T cell populations — J. exp. Med.158, 571, 1983a.
Moretta A., Pantaleo G., Moretta L., Cerottini J. C., Mingari M. C.: Direct demonstration of the clonogenic potential of every human peripheral blood T cell. Clonal analysis of HLA-DR expression and cytolytic activity — J. exp. Med.157, 743, 1983b.
Moretta A., Pantaleo G.: Surface structures involved in human cytolytic T lymphocyte function. In:Feldman N. (Ed.): Human T cell clones: a new approach to immunoregulation. Humana Press, London, 1985. (in press).
Moretta L., Webb S. R., Grossi C. E., Lydyard P. M., Cooper M. D.: Functional analysis of two human T-Cell subpopulations: help and suppression of B-cell responses by T cells bearing receptors for IgM or IgG — J. exp. Med.146, 184, 1977.
Vose B. M.: Quantitation of proliferative and cytotoxic precursor cells directed against human tumors: limiting dilution analysis in peripheral blood and at the tumor site — Int. J. Cancer30, 135, 1982.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported in part by a grant (contract no. 84.00089.11) from theConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Roma, Italy.
Recipient of an AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro) fellowship.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Biassoni, R., Prigione, I., Di Marco, E. et al. Cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes isolated from ovarian carcinoma ascitic fluid. Analysis at the population and clonal level. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 15, 177–183 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029837
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029837