Heterogeneity of cell surface receptors and mitogen reactivity of individual spontaneous AKR lymphomas.

Eight spontaneous thymic lymphomas from AKR mice were characterized individually in vitro for cell surface receptors and mitogen reactivity. One of the thymic lymphomas, designated 105, displayed receptors for the Fc region of immunoglobulin and for complement on a portion of the Thy-1-positive lymphoid blasts. The other T cell lymphomas did not display either receptor, and none expressed cell surface immunoglobulin. This was in contrast to the distinct behavior of each lymphoma in culture in both spontaneous and mitogen-stimulated tritiated thymidine [3H]-dThd uptake. After 48 h of culture, spontaneous [3H]-dThd uptake of the individual lymphomas ranged from 137 +/- 27 cpm to 100,442 +/- 13,422 cpm. Four of the spontaneous lymphomas did not respond to T cell mitogens by increased [3H]-dThd uptake. One lymphoma responded to the T cell mitogen concanavalin A only, whereas two lymphomas were stimulated by both phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. None of the lymphomas were stimulated by the B cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide.