In vitro stimulation of mouse lymphoid cells by C1300 neuroblastoma cells or tumor membrane extracts.

Spleen lymphoid cells from A/J mice recognize specific antigenic differences on the surface membranes of syngeneic C1300 neuroblastoma cells and incorporate 3H-thymidine into DNA in unidirectional mixed cell cultures in the absence of isologous serum. The response requires an optimal ratio of responder to stimulator cells, and is detectable after 24 h. It is specifically blocked by the presence of a papain-solubilized crude membrane extract from the same neuroblastoma cells, the extent of inhibition being dependent on the concentration of the extract and the time when it is added to the cultures. Spleen cells from mice bearing the neuroblastoma respond earlier and incorporate more 3H-thymidine than cells from unsensitized mice. The enhanced response of the primed spleen cells to the stimulator cells is similar to a secondary immune response and can be induced by soluble crude tumor extracts in the absence of stimulator cells.