Demonstration of cytotoxic antibodies in rabbits bearing tumors induced by Shope fibroma virus.

The (51)Cr-release test was used to detect cytotoxic antibodies in adult rabbits bearing tumors induced by Shope fibroma virus. The following are the recommended experimental conditions: the infection of RK-13 cells with a multiplicity of 1 to 2 infectious units per cell for 48 hr, (51)Cr labeling of infected cells during the last 12 hr of incubation, sensitization of suspended labeled infected cells for 1 hr with immune serum, and quantitation of cell damage by the amount of (51)Cr released after 6 hr of incubation in the presence of complement. The immune sera reacted only with fibroma virus-infected cells but not with cells infected with vaccinia virus or herpesvirus type 1. Similarly, sera prepared against vaccinia virus and herpesvirus type 1 were not cytotoxic to fibroma virus-infected cells, although they were cytotoxic to cells infected with homologous viruses. The total antibody activity in sera of rabbits infected with Shope fibroma virus was detected first on day 7, gradually rose to its peak by day 23, and persisted at that level for at least 50 days. The 19S antibody was detected on day 7, reached peak titers by day 13, and disappeared by day 17. The 7S antibody was barely detectable on day 7, reached maximum titers on day 13, and remained high for at least 50 days. The tumors appeared on the 3rd day after virus inoculation, reached maximum size on day 13, and regressed completely by day 23.