Cellular immunoabsorbents in transplantation immunity. Specific in vitro deletion and recovery of mouse lymphoid cells sensitized against allogeneic tumors.

Mouse lymphoid cells, sensitized against tumor allografts, can be deprived of the immunoreactive cells by in vitro absorption with specific fibroblast monolayers. Populations of lymphocytes so depleted are less effective in retarding tumor growth in vivo and in lysing tumor cells in vitro. Moreover, the adsorbed immunoreactive cells can be recovered specifically and are subsequently efficient in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo and in killing tumor cells in vitro. Further evidence is presented for the suggestion that the destruction of target cells in vitro by sensitized lymphoid cells is truly representative of the mode of destruction of grafted cells in vivo.