Murine spontaneous T-cell leukemia constitutively expressing IL-2 receptor--a model for human T-cell malignancies expressing IL-2 receptor.

We describe a new, spontaneously occurring BALB/c-derived murine T-cell leukemia. The leukemic cells, designated LB, grow rapidly and progressively in the syngeneic host with no signs of effective immunological resistance. LB cells expressed the Thy-1+, Lyt-2+, L3T4-, CD3- class-I+, CD25+ (IL-2 receptor, IL-2R), class-II-, gp70- phenotype. As LB cells express IL-2, as indicated by staining with 2 distinct anti-CD25 IL-2R monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), the therapeutic efficacy of IL-2-diphtheria toxin-related protein was tested on this leukemic model. IL-2-diphtheria toxin, but not diphtheria toxin, efficiently inhibited the proliferation of LB cells. The proliferation of a murine myeloma cell line, which does not express IL-2R, was not inhibited by IL-2-diphtheria toxin. The possible implantation of this animal model in fundamental and practical studies is discussed.