Release of soluble "blocking" and "suppressor" factors from normal lymphocytes treated with RNA from spleens of tumour-bearing mice.

RNA extracted from the spleens of tumour-bearing (TLRNA) and tumour-immune (ILRNA) mice was shown to transfer to normal lymphocytes (NL) the ability to produce factors that blocked specific tumour-cell cytotoxicity and mediated specific antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC). Aliquots of normal C3H mouse lymphocytes were treated with TLRNA or ILRNA and cultured in vitro in the absence of tumour antigen. Supernatants were collected at 24h intervals and tested in a microcytotoxicity assay for blocking and ADCC activities. Factors that inhibited tumour destruction by specifically sensitized lymphocytes at the level of both the tumour cells and effector cells were demonstrable in culture supernatants of NL pretreated with TLRNA (50 or 100 microgram/4 X 10(6) cells) but not ILRNA. However, treatment of NL with either RNA resulted in the production factors that mediated tumour-specific ADCC. Cytotoxicity testing and absorption studies of the tumour cell and a control cell (LM) indicated that factors mediating ADCC and blocking at the target-cell level were specific for the tumour. Suppressor activity at the effector-cell level was not absorbed by tumour cells and represents a separate and distinct mechanism of immunosuppression. These data indicate that RNA faithfully transfers "suppressive" as well as "positive" types of immune responses that have been reported previously for lymphocytes obtained directly from tumour-bearing and tumour-immune animals.