Growth regulation of a T-cell lymphoma via the T-cell receptor.

Autocrine stimulation is described for a Radiation leukaemia virus (RadLV)-induced T-cell lymphoma, C6VL/1. The proliferation of this tumour cell line can be regulated by several agents, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), antibodies to the IL-2 receptor and the T-cell antigen-specific receptor (TCR), as well as RadLV retrovirus particles produced by the cell itself. This information has been gained using various procedures to slow or arrest C6VL/1 proliferation, including the addition of gamma interferon (gamma-IFN) and cell culture at low density. All data suggest that these cells can receive growth stimulation via the T-cell receptor (TCR) and IL-2 receptor, implicating autocrine stimulation of growth involving IL-2 and retroviral gene products.