Role of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens in modulating the performance of murine tumour cells in cold target competition assays.

The role of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen levels on the ability of five murine tumour cell lines (YAC, P815, EL4, SP20 and L929) to competitively inhibit their own lysis, as well as the lysis of other targets by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) effector cells was examined. Basal LAK susceptibilities of the cell lines were in the order P815 > YAC > SP20 > EL4 > L929, whereas the basal class I MHC antigen levels were in the order P815 > SP20 > L929 > YAC > EL4. Treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced augmentation of class I MHC antigen levels on all cell lines. A concomitant decline in LAK susceptibility was seen for P815, YAC, SP20 and L929 cells, but not for EL4 target cells. On the basis of competition results, tumour cells appear to fall into two groups (group 1: P815, YAC and SP20; group 2: EL4 and L929). Members of each group could in general competitively inhibit the lysis of cell lines of their own group only. Treatment with IFN-gamma suppressed the ability of all tumour cell lines, except EL4, to cause competitive inhibition. These results support the proposition that class I MHC antigens may interfere with the recognition of target cells by effector LAK cells.