Cytolytic T cell hybridomas. II. Interleukin 2-independent cytolytic variants.

Interleukin 2 (IL2)-dependent cytolytic hybrids usually loose IL2 dependence and cytolytic activity concomittantly. Here we describe an exceptional IL2-independent variant which lost IL2 receptor but retained cytolytic activity. When the IL2-independent cytolytic hybrid cells were fused with IL2-dependent cytolytic clones which express IL2 receptors constitutively, IL2-dependent hybrids were obtained. This suggests that the expression of IL2 receptors can interfere with IL2-independent growth mechanisms.