Role of Natural Killer Cells in Tumor Growth and Metastasis: C57BL/6 Normal and Beige Mice

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in tumor growth and metastasis was studied in syngeneic normal and beige inbred C57BL/6 mice. Mice with the beige point mutation have been shown to be deficient in nonstimulated NK activity. Tumor-passaged B16 malignant melanoma cells were refractory to NK activ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:JNCI : Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1980-11, Vol.65 (5), p.929-935
Main Authors: Talmadge, James E., Meyers, Kenneth M., Prieur, David J., Starkey, Jean R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Killer Cells, Natural - immunology
Melanoma - immunology
Melanoma - physiopathology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Inbred Strains
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms, Experimental - immunology
Neoplasms, Experimental - physiopathology
Spleen - immunology
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Summary:The role of natural killer (NK) cells in tumor growth and metastasis was studied in syngeneic normal and beige inbred C57BL/6 mice. Mice with the beige point mutation have been shown to be deficient in nonstimulated NK activity. Tumor-passaged B16 malignant melanoma cells were refractory to NK activity as determined by in vitro assay, but after in vitro culture they became sensitive to NK activity. The NK-insensitive B16 tumor grew and metastasized similarly in normal and beige mice. However, the NK-sensitive B16 tumors grew more slowly and produced fewer metastases in normal mice than in NK-deficient beige mice. Activation of NK cells by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection decreased the rate of growth and number of metastases of both NK-sensitive and NK-insensitive tumors in both normal and beige mice. These results suggest the importance of NK cells as a determinant of tumor growth and metastasis.
ISSN:0027-8874
1460-2105
DOI:10.1093/jnci/65.5.929