Autoreactivity developing spontaneously in cultured mouse spleen cells. I. Evidence that cytotoxicity is directed against embryo-associated antigen.

We have investigated the ability of male-mouse spleen cells before and after culture in the absence of deliberate antigenic stimulation to show specific cytotoxicity to syngeneic embryo-fibroblast cells. The data suggest that cytotoxicity which develops spontaneously in such spleen cell cultures is directed primarily against embryo-associated antigens. Syngeneic Con-A-stimulated spleen cells, which, unlike fresh normal spleen cells, are also lysed by rabbit anti-mouse embryo antisera, are also a suitable target to demonstrate spontaneously developing cytotoxicity.