Characteristics of complement receptor-bearing cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice.

In the course of mammary tumor development, a population of nylon nonadherent cells with CR appears in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice although none are ever detected in normal mice. These cells apparently arise in response to immunologic stimulation. In a series of studies we have further characterized subsets of T cells (CR+ and CR-) with regard to their responses to mitogens in the lymphocyte transformation assay. Nylon column nonadherent cells from the spleens of tumor-bearing mice were rosetted in a complement receptor assay using EAC rosetting, and CR+ cells were separated from CR- by centrifugation in a discontinuous Ficoll gradient. CR+ T cells responded strongly to PHA and Con A and in addition responded to LPS, an activity not usually associated with conventional T cells. In contrast, CR- T cells from tumor-burdened mice responded to PHA but failed to respond to Con A or LPS.