Glucocorticoid resistance is a dominant trait in hybrids between cytolytic T-lymphocyte lines and AKR thymomas.

By screening several cytolytic T-lymphocyte lines, AKR thymomas, and CTL X AKR thymoma hybrids from two different crosses for their sensitivity to the glucocorticoid (GC) analog dexamethasone (dex), we have found that CTL lines and cytolytically active, IL-2-dependent (CTL-like) hybrids are resistant to the cytostatic or cytolytic effects of dex; AKR thymomas and thymoma-like hybrids (cytolytically inactive, IL-2-independent), however, are sensitive to these effects of the drug. The GC resistance behaves like a dominant trait in these crosses. Although they are resistant to GC, the CTL lines and the CTL-like hybrids do contain functional hormone receptors and macrophage-activating factor (MAF) release by the CTL lines and CTL-like hybrids is inhibited by dex.