Homograft target cells: contact destruction in vitro by immune macrophages.

Specific adherence of immune macrophages to monolayers of target cells is a passive phenomenon which represents only the first step in the mutually destructive interaction of immune macrophages and target cells. A specific hemagglutinin, responsible for specific adherence, was eluted from well-washed immune macrophages by heat treatment. The nature of the events in the interaction subsequent to adherence are unknown, but apparently demand the biosynthetic activities of the immune macrophage.

Production of lymphotoxin by isolated human tonsillar B lymphocytes and B lymphocyte cell lines.

The expression of lymphotoxin (LT) mRNA and cytokine in human tonsillar B cells and B cell lines was examined by Northern blots and cytotoxicity assays, respectively. In tonsillar B cells, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan l (SAC) alone induced low levels of LT mRNA accumulation. However, SAC and anti-mu were strongly synergistic with PMA in this induction. Peak LT mRNA expression in tonsillar B cells stimulated by PMA plus SAC occurred between 48 and 72 h and was approximately half as much as that in PMA plus anti-CD3-stimulated T cells. Cyclosporine A was not effective in inhibiting LT mRNA accumulation by stimulated tonsillar B cells. A number of B cell lines could also be stimulated by PMA to express LT mRNA. Peak accumulation of LT mRNA in the cell line RPMI 1788 stimulated with PMA peaked about 8 h. A23187 in combination with PMA caused this accumulation to increase slightly and to peak earlier. The cytotoxic effects in the supernatants of stimulated B cells were contributed mostly by LT. The results indicate that tonsillar B cells are important in LT production and that there are important differences in the stimulation requirements for LT production and in LT mRNA expression kinetics between tonsillar B cells and B cell lines.

Inducible macrophage cytotoxins. II. Tumor lysis mechanism involving target cell-binding proteases.

Thioglycollate-elicited C57BL/6 peritoneal exudate macrophage monolayers (PEMM) stimulated with poly I . poly C or LPS released a macrophage cytotoxin (MCT) that rapidly bound to syngeneic (EL 4) or allogeneic (NS-1, YAC-1) tumor cells but did not bind to normal splenocytes. No binding to human (K562) tumor cells was observed. PEMM stimulated with poly I . poly C destroyed allogeneic tumor cells (NS-1) when separated by cell-impermeable Millipore filters in vitro; in contrast, PEMM not stimulated with poly I . poly C were incapable of lysing targets when separated by membranes. The reversible inhibitors N alpha-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and soybean trypsin inhibitor and the irreversible inhibitors N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, of trypsin-like proteases, significantly or totally inhibited MCT cell-lytic activity for L-929 cells in vitro. Furthermore, modification of MCT-associated arginine residues by 1,2-cyclohexanedione completely blocked lytic activity. MCT was concluded to be an inducible nonspecific cell-lytic effector molecule elaborated by activated macrophages, which could bind to potential target cells, and was itself or was associated with a protease.

Isolation and initial characterization of tumoricidal monokine(s) from the human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1.

A cloned subline of the human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, was induced to produce high levels of cytotoxic activity following an 18-hour phorbol myristate acetate (CAS: 16561-29-8) stimulation in vitro. This activity, termed monocyte cell line cytotoxin(s) (MCCT), was tested in vitro on different human continuous cell lines (Chang, ESH-7, GM3104A, HeLa, HT-1080, K562, Mel, T-24) and on primary human fibroblasts (GM3468, Manz). The continuous cell lines exhibited a spectrum of sensitivity to MCCT-containing supernatants whereas the primary fibroblasts were resistant to lysis. Enzymatic degradation and heat denaturation studies indicate that MCCT is a protein. Its bioactivity can be resolved into three lytic peaks after molecular sieving on Ultrogel AcA 44. The major peak, designated alpha MCCT, eluted with a molecular weight of 100,000-140,000 daltons. A minor peak, beta MCCT, was seen at 60,000-80,000 daltons, and a third, unstable minor peak, gamma MCCT, eluted at less than 10,000 daltons. The alpha-lytic peak was examined further and was found to migrate as a single peak in 7% native polyacrylamide gel electrolysis tube gels with an rf of 0.25-0.30. None of the MCCT forms were immunologically cross-reactive with human alpha-lymphotoxin. Various protease inhibitors known to inhibit monokine- and macrophage-mediated direct cell lysis in vitro were tested for their inhibitory effects on alpha MCCT activity. The irreversible binding inhibitor N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysyl chloromethyl ketone inhibited the biologic activity of alpha MCCT. The reversible binding inhibitors N alpha-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and soybean trypsin inhibitor were able to block in vitro lytic activity when added to alpha MCCT in the presence of the target cell. In contrast, the inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, L-1-tosylamide, 2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone, and N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester were not effective in blocking cytolysis. Finally, the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase inhibited alpha MCCT lytic activity in vitro; however, the hypochlorous acid scavengers alanine, serine, and valine were without effect.

Inducible macrophage cytotoxins. I. Biokinetics of activation and release in vitro.

Peritoneal exudate macrophage monolayers (PEMM) from C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice inoculated ip with tumor allografts were induced to release in vitro labile cell toxin(s), herein called "macrophage cytotoxin(s)" (MCT). Macrophages released MCT spontaneously for a short interval when initially established as monolayers, and they were reinduced to secrete MCT by exposure to allogeneic and syngeneic tumor cells (but not to normal cells) and by exposure to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I . poly C) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). PEMM from normal mice treated ip 3 days previously with thioglycollate were also induced to release toxins in vitro. These cells did not release MCT spontaneously before or after treatment with neoplastic cells but were induced to release MCT by exposure to poly I . poly C or LPS. Resident peritoneal macrophages did not release MCT either spontaneously or after treatment with tumor cells, poly I . poly C, or LPS. MCT released from alloimmune mice stimulated with syngeneic or allogeneic tumor cells were resolved by molecular sieving into a major peak at 140,000--160,000 daltons, called "alpha-MCT," and into a minor peak at 60,000 daltons, called "beta-MCT." However, supernatants from thioglycollate-induced PEMM, stimulated with poly I . poly C or LPS, appeared to be composed entirely of the alpha-class. alpha-MCT from poly I . poly C-stimulated PEMM caused 31--56% lysis of syngeneic EL-4 and allogeneic L-929, NS-1, and YAC-1 tumor cells in vitro but was not cytotoxic for normal cells. Secretion of the MCT by PEMM derived from thioglycollate-treated animals stimulated with poly I . poly C was inhibited by colchicine, emetine, iodoacetic acid, trypan blue, and cytochalasin B.

Differences in cytotoxic effects of activated murine peritoneal macrophages and J774 monocytic cells on metastatic variants of B16 melanoma.

The cytotoxic effects of activated peritoneal macrophages and the J774 reticulum cell sarcoma cell line on B16 melanoma cells of differing metastatic potential were investigated in vitro. The melanoma target cells were sublines of low (B16-F1) or high (B16-F10) lung colonization potential as well as a subline of high (B16-B14b) brain colonization ability. Thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from syngeneic C57BL/6 mice and J774 cells were activated in vitro with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) and used as effector cells. Macrophage-mediated cytolysis was determined by means of 24- to 72-hour radioactivity release assays with [125I]5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled melanoma cells; the results indicated that the more metastatic sublines B16-F10 and B16-B14b were less susceptible to cytolysis by activated macrophages and J774 cells than was the poorly metastatic B16-F1 subline. The poly I:C-activated effector cells also released soluble cytotoxin(s), which resulted in melanoma cell lysis and growth inhibition. Cytotoxin-mediated melanoma cell cytolysis was determined by counting the number of viable mitomycin-treated target cells remaining after a 40-hour incubation period in the absence or presence of various concentrations of cell-released factors, and cytotoxin-mediated cytostasis was performed with the use of the same procedures without mitomycin pretreatment of targets. The factors released from both activated macrophages and J774 cells were more effective against the poorly metastatic B16-F1 cells than against the highly metastatic B16-F10 or B16-F14b cells. In addition, the activity of the factors from both activated effector cells was inhibited by fetal bovine serum. The J774 cells and the activated peritoneal macrophages demonstrated similar activities against B16 melanoma variants, indicating that the J774 cell line may be suitable as a model for the study of macrophage cytotoxicity. The results suggested that the potential of the highly metastatic melanoma cells to implant, survive, and grow at secondary sites may be due, in part, to their ability to circumvent host antitumor mechanisms.

Purification of murine macrophage cytotoxin (MCT).

Macrophage cytotoxin (MCT) can be induced from peritoneal exudate macrophage monolayers (PEMM) obtained from thioglycollate-treated mice, by exposure of PEMM to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or to double-stranded polyinosinic: poly-cytidylic acid (poly-l:poly-C). MCT is highly labile even upon storage at 4 degrees C, and is irreversibly denatured by isolectricfocusing, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), or by exposure to ethylene glycol. alpha-MCT [150,000 daltons (d)] has been highly purified (2,000- to 5,000-fold) from serum-free, PEMM supernatants by a scheme of concentration, molecular sieving on Ultrogel AcA 44, negative hydrophobic affinity chromatography on benzyl-agarose, and ion exchange chromatography on aminoethyl-agarose. The scheme results in high yield of MCT, in part because of the rapidity with which the labile toxin is manipulated due to the tandemization of the chromatographic steps.

Purification to electrophoretic homogeneity of human alpha lymphotoxin from a cloned continuous lymphoblastoid cell line IR 3.4.

The 70-90,000 molecular weight (MW) alpha (alpha) component of the human lymphotoxin (LT) system has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The alpha LT containing supernatants were obtained from a phorbol myristate (PMA) stimulated cloned continuous human B lymphoblastoid cell line IR 3.4. Supernatants were subjected to a biochemical separation scheme that consisted of chromatography on control pore glass beads, DEAE ion-exchange chromatography, lentil-lectin affinity chromatography, and electrophoresis on 7% native preparative polyacrylamide gels. The specific activity of the alpha LT in the final fractions was from 10(7) to 5 X 10(7) units of LT activity/mg protein. Approximately 3 to 5% of the initial alpha LT was recovered in the final fractions and a purification factor of 25,000 to 30,000 fold was required to achieve homogeneity. The alpha LT preparation from preparative PAGE exhibited concident migration of bioactivity and radioactivity on 5 and 7% native PAGE tube gels. Only a single protein peak was observed when the radiolabeled alpha LT was subjected to a two-dimensional SDS-reducing slab gel.

Rat mitogen-stimulated lymphokine-activated T killer cells: production and effects on C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo in the brain of Wistar rats.

An in vitro technique was developed to generate activated rat T cells, with antitumor activity. Splenic mononuclear cells (SMC) from outbred Wistar and inbred Wistar-Munich rats were stimulated with Concanavalin A and recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in vitro for 48 h. After 2 days, the nonadherent cells began proliferating and were maintained in rIL-2 for up to 18 days in vitro. FACScan analysis revealed that SMC was a mixture of cell types; however, CD5+ T cells rapidly increased and became the predominant cell type after 5 days in culture. SMC induced cytolysis of YAC-1, but not C6 glioma cells in 4 h 51Cr release assays. In contrast, 5- and 9-day T cells lysed C6 glioma and YAC-1 cells. The C6 cells were admixed with cultured effector cells at various effector-to-target (E:T) ratios and were injected into the right cerebral hemisphere of Wistar and Wistar-Munich rats for a Winn assay. Histopathologic evaluations revealed that a) SMC had no effect; b) 2- and 5-day T cells, injected at E:T ratios greater than 5:1, caused significant reduction in tumor size; and c) 2- or 5-day T cells, at a 40:1 E:T ratio, resulted in little or no histologic evidence of tumor. Eighty-three percent of animals receiving C6 and 5-day mitogen-stimulated lymphokine activated killer cells at an E:T ratio of 40:1 were alive 120 days postinjection (p less than 0.05).

Growth of the endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line AN3 CA is modulated by tumor necrosis factor and its receptor is up-regulated by estrogen in vitro.

We demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has a biphasic effect on the growth of the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line AN3 CA in vitro. Low levels (0.2-5 pg/ml) of TNF were moderately growth stimulatory (up to 20% enhancement), while levels over 100 pg were growth inhibitory (up to 45% inhibition). Northern blot analysis showed expression of the 75-kilodalton (kDa) TNF receptor mRNA, but no expression of the 55-kDa TNF receptor mRNA or TNF mRNA. The growth of these cells was not directly affected by physiological concentrations (10(-7)-10(-9) M) of 17 beta-estradiol (E2). However, [125I]TNF binding studies and Scatchard analysis showed that 18-h coculture with 10(-8) M E2 increased the number of TNF receptors expressed on these cells 3-fold. Quantitative mRNA analysis confirmed that 75-kDa TNF receptor mRNA expression increased within 4 h of incubation with E2. These observations suggest an interaction between the endocrine and the immune systems, with an important implication for the homeostasis of endometrial tissues.

Spontaneous release of interleukin-6 by primary cultures of lymphoid and tumor cell populations purified from human ovarian carcinoma.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that has been implicated as a growth factor in human ovarian carcinoma, yet the in vivo source of IL-6 in patients remains undefined. We measured IL-6 by ELISA in cell-free ascites (CFA) of 19 patients with ovarian carcinoma. IL-6 was detectable in all samples (mean level 3.3 ng/ml). To identify the cellular source of IL-6, we measured this cytokine by ELISA in 24-48 h supernatants of cultured lymphocyte-, macrophage-, and tumor cell-enriched populations purified from three solid ovarian carcinomas by centrifugal elutriation. All cell populations spontaneously released IL-6; however, tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophage released levels of IL-6 that greatly exceeded those released by tumor-associated lymphocytes. Kinetic studies revealed that IL-6 was detectable at 6 h and that levels increased in all cultures examined over a 48 h time course. These data suggest that both tumor and infiltrating host cells may be the source of the high levels of IL-6 found in carcinomatous ascites. Furthermore, although all three cell types examined may contribute to IL-6 production in patients with ovarian carcinoma, tumor cells are perhaps the most clinically significant source.

Antibodies against human lymphokines: I. Methods for induction of antibodies capable of neutralizing stable (alpha) and unstable (beta) lymphotoxins released in vitro by activated human lymphocytes.

Various methods were employed to induce antibodies in rabbits that were capable of neutralizing different families of lymphotoxins (LT). Both stable (alpha-LT) and unstable (beta-LT) molecules, released by activated human lymphocytes in vitro, were neutralized. The different LT families were first separated into their respective groups by physical-chemical methods. Immunization with small quantities of antigen yielded a high percentage of responder animals. Techniques were developed for eliciting alpha-LT antibodies using as little as 2--3 ml of a cell-free supernatant. The situation was more difficult, however, when the unstable beta-LT molecules were employed as antigens. We found that because of the low concentration and lability of beta-LT in supernatants, the immunizing dose had to be: a) handled rapidly, b) larger than that used with the alpha-LT, and c) injected at closer intervals and over a longer immunization protocol. Physical-chemical studies supperted the concept that the LT-neutralizing activity in the immune serum was immunoglobulin.

Separation of functional subpopulations of murine and human lymphoid cells on colloidal silica density gradients. I. Preparation of the Ludox AM gradient material and characterization of separation capacities.

This report describes a unique modification of an isopycnic density gradient system utilizing as a separating menstrum colloidal silica (Ludox AM). The primary advantages of this preparation are: (1) It is chemically defined, allowing extremely reproducible cell separation employing different lots of material; (2) the physical parameters (pH, density, salt concentration) of the final gradient suspension can be manipulated over a wide range of values, allowing for the separation of many different biological materials; (3) it allows separation of very large numbers of lymphoid cells with greater than 95% recovery of applied cells; (4) separated cellular subpopulations can be easily washed free of silica and cellular function is retained. This paper is a report of the preparation and functional characteristics of the gradient material as it relates to the separation of very large numbers of lymphoid cell subpopulations in both mouse and man. Subpopulations of murine and human lymphocytes separated by this gradient material were assayed for IgM synthesis, T-cell mediated cytotoxicity, and lymphokine production.

Lymphocyte effector molecules: an vitro production method for obtaining liter volumes of supernatants from mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes.

An in vitro method has been developed utilizing phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated lymphocytes obtained from human tonsils and adenoids which permit the accumulation of multi-liter quantities of cell-free supernatants containing lymphotoxin and other lymphocyte effector molecules (LEM). An enriched media is employed which contains a large molecular weight, heat stable bovine serum fraction which supports lymphoid cell activation and levels of LEM secretion equal to that of cultures maintained in medium supplemented with whole serum. Elimination of whole serum from the media greatly reduces overall protein concentrations and facilitates concentration and purification studies. Various technical aspects of these cultures have been examined, i.e.: 1) cell concentration, 2) kinetics of LT production over a ten-day period, 3) mitogen dosage, and 4) types of media. Supernatants can be harvested repeatedly from a single culture over the ten day period, thus doubling the yield of LEM collected from a single culture.

Generation of stimulated, lymphokine activated T killer (T-LAK) cells from the peripheral blood of normal donors and adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) from normal donors and patients with recurrent glioma were activated initially for 48-72 h with phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) and recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2), and then proliferated in vitro for up to 5 months with IL-2. These cells are termed mitogen-stimulated lymphokine-activated T killer (T-LAK) cells. We measured patterns of T-LAK cell growth, in vitro cytolytic activity on a panel of continuous and primary tumor cells, and the phenotypes of the cells in these cultures. Lymphocyte viability declined dramatically over the first 3-5 days; and then the remaining cells in these cultures began to divide and maintained a constant 30-36 h doubling time for long periods in vitro. Phenotyping revealed that cells in the initial few days of culture were heterogeneous, but became almost totally CD3 T cells after 7-10 days in culture. The T-LAK cells from individual normal donors and cancer patients demonstrated a non-genetically restricted cytolytic ability against a panel of both continuous cell lines and primary autologous and allogeneic glioblastoma cells in vitro. This technique provides a method of generating large numbers of autologous cytolytic T cells with non-restricted anti-tumor activity that can be derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The effect of agents which modulate levels of the cyclic nucleotides on human lymphotoxin secretion and activity in vitro.

The ability of concanavalin-A (Con-A) to activate lymphocytes to secrete human lymphotoxin (LT) was tested in the presence of agents known to modify the intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP). Lymphocytes were treated with these agents at different stages of activation: (1) during the first encounter with mitogens, and (2) after they had been fully activated and were restimulated. Two agents, Dibutyryl cAMP and theophylline, dramatically inhibit the amount of LT secreted during both "primary" and "secondary" activation by Con-A. In contrast; DL-isoproterenol had a weak effect during primary activation, but greatly reduced the level of LT secreted during secondary activation. Agents which affect the intracellular level of cGMP were also tested. Imidazole had no effect on LT secretion by either primary or secondary Con-A activated cells. In contrast, carbamyl choline greatly reduced LT secretion to a level comparable to Dibutyryl cAMP and theophylline. All agents tested protected, to some degree, the sensitive alpha-L cell against LT-induced destruction in vitro. Agents which affect the levels of cyclic nucleotides affect both the effectiveness of the aggressor cell and the sensitivity of the target cells in vitro.

A 20 amino acid synthetic peptide of a region from the 55 kDa human TNF receptor inhibits cytolytic and binding activities of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor in vitro.

Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Lymphotoxin (LT) can exert a wide range of effects on cells and tissues and they are important effector molecules in cell mediated immunity. All these effects are induced subsequent to the binding of these cytokines to specific membrane receptors. Recently, two of these membrane receptors of 55 and 75 kDa, have been identified which share some amino acid (AA) homology in their N-terminal extracellular domains but differ in their intracellular domains. We synthesized two synthetic 20 AA peptides from hydrophilic regions of the N-terminal extracellular domains of the 55 kDa receptor; peptide A shares homology with both 55 and 75 kDa receptors, peptide B is unique. We found peptide B inhibits both the binding and cytolytic activity of recombinant human TNF when tested on murine L929 cells in vitro. Polyclonal antiserum generated against peptide B will block binding of 125I-labelled TNF to these cells in vitro. However, peptide A and antiserum prepared against peptide A are without effect in these same assay systems. These data suggest that the 20 AA sequences from AA 175 to 194 in the N-terminal extracellular domain of the 55 kDa TNF receptor are expressed on the cell surface and are involved in the binding of TNF.

Trauma causes sustained elevation of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors.

BACKGROUND: Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) are thought to modulate the systemic effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by binding to serum TNF and preventing its interaction with target organs. Recently, it has been shown that traumatic injury causes the early release of the soluble forms of the 55 and 75 kDa membrane receptors for TNF. This study was done to determine the magnitude of TNF receptor elevation after trauma, to delineate the duration of this elevation, and to determine if sTNF-R levels correlate with severity of injury and outcome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred injured patients treated at a Level I Trauma Center were included in the study (74 males, 26 females, mean age of 29.4 years [range of ten to 72 years], mean injury severity score of 16.8 [range of zero to 75]). Serum samples were drawn from these patients beginning within one hour of injury and continuing for as many as 15 days. Samples were analyzed using polyclonal ELISA assays for TNF and sTNF 55 and 75 kDa receptor levels; control levels of receptor were determined from healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Tumor necrosis factor was not measurable, but trauma caused immediate elevation of both receptor levels (within one hour of injury). Receptor levels remained elevated for as many as 15 days after injury. Late variations in levels were related to complications, that is, hypoxia, infection, and sepsis. Levels were significantly more elevated in critically ill patients and nonsurvivors. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sTNF-R levels are significantly elevated after trauma, in the absence of measurable TNF. Levels are elevated for variable periods of time, which seem to depend on the severity of injury and complications.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) binding proteins (soluble TNF receptor forms) with possible roles in inflammation and malignancy.

Inhibitors of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) may be necessary for protection of the host against harmful systemic manifestations of this cytokine such as in the septic syndrome and inflammatory conditions. TNF-binding proteins (TNF-BP) have been identified and shown to be the soluble extracellular domains of two transmembrane TNF receptors produced by proteolytic cleavage. TNF-BP inactivates TNF by formation of high affinity complexes thereby reducing the binding of TNF to target cell membrane receptors. In addition, TNF is stabilized in complex with TNF-BP, and under certain conditions the complex may act as a slow releaser of biologically active TNF. TNF can induce the release of TNF-BP in vivo which might neutralize the bioactivity of TNF. Cytokine control by natural and recombinant cytokine inhibitors such as TNF-BP could be a promising therapeutic approach in chronic inflammatory disorders to shift the balance between a cytokine-induced response and counteracting "anticytokines". A local production of TNF-BP in some tumour tissues may inactivate TNF for the benefit of the tumour. In some leukemias e.g. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, where TNF can act as a growth factor for the malignant cells, TNF-BP may be growth inhibitory.

Development and in vitro characterization of a GM-CSF secreting human ovarian carcinoma tumor vaccine.

A human ovarian carcinoma cell line (UCI-107) was genetically engineered to secrete the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), by retroviral medicated gene transduction. This line was transduced with the LXSN retroviral vector containing the human GM-CSF gene and the neomycin resistance selection marker. Numerous GM-CSF secreting clones were randomly isolated and one clone, termed UCI-107M GM-CSF-MPS, extensively characterized. This clone was shown to constitutively secrete high levels of GM-CSF (ie 420-585 pg ml-1 105 cells-1 48 h-1 for over 35 passages and 6 months of study. Like the parental cell line UCI-107, UCI-107M GM-CSF-MPS cells expressed MHC class I and Her2/Neu surface antigens but did not express detectable MHC class II, ICAM-1 or CA-125. No change in the expression of these surface proteins was noted between the parental cells and this GM-CSF secreting clone. The morphology of UCI-107M GM-CSF-MPS did not differ from that of the parental or LXSN vector control cells; however, parental cells had a slightly faster growth rate than the transductants. UCI-107M GM-CSF-MPS was sensitive to gamma irradiation, since as little as 2500 rads killed the cells within 10 days of irradiation. However, even after higher doses of irradiation (ie 10000 rads), GM-CSF secretion continued in vitro until about day 8. Interestingly, irradiation induced up-regulation of the surface antigens previously expressed, and they remained up-regulated for as long as the cells remained viable. The potential use of these GM-CSF secreting ovarian carcinoma cells as vaccines for women with advanced ovarian cancer will be discussed.