Effector cells working for rejection of Ad12 tumors in mice.

Immune spleen cells (ISC) capable of inhibiting the growth of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) tumors were raised in C57BL/6 mice by immunization with Ad12, fractionated according to their affinity for plastic and nylon-wool substrates or treated with various antisera plus complement, and subjected to the tumor-neutralization test (Winn) to define the effector cells for the cell species. Full antitumor activity of ISC was recovered in the cell fractions nonadherent to the two substrates; the antitumor activity of ISC was abrogated entirely by anti-Thy-1,2 serum and almost entirely by anti-Lyt-2.2 ascites fluid plus complement. These results clearly indicate that T-lymphocytes, particularly those bearing Lyt-2.2 antigen, are the principal effectors in ISC against Ad12 tumors in animals.