Interleukin-12-induced cytotoxicity against syngeneic B cell lymphomas of SJL/J mice

Abstract

The B cell lymphomas (RCS) that develop spontaneously in 90% of aging SJL/J mice stimulate syngeneic CD4 + Vβ16 + Th2 cells to produce cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-5, which promote lymphoma growth. Although RCS cells express a unique superantigen (vSAg) encoded by an endogenous MMTV (Mtv-29) provirus that also elicits IFN-γ production from naı̈ve syngeneic lymphoid cells, there is no development of RCS-specific cytotoxicity. However, addition of IL-12 to co-cultures of SJL spleen and irradiated (γ-)RCS cells resulted in the appearance of effector cells that killed RCS and NK-susceptible target cells. Antibody depletion studies revealed at least two types of RCS/IL-12-induced cytotoxic cells: (1) NK cells (Asialo GM1 +) and (2) CD8 + CTL. Despite high titers of IFN-γ in the SN of co-culture of SJL spleen and γ-RCS cells, cytotoxicity only developed if IL-12 was also included in the co-cultures. The results of RNAse protection assays and multi-parameter FACS analysis demonstrated an upregulation of IFN-γ and decrease in IL-4 by activated Th cells in co-cultures with IL-12. These results indicate that inclusion of IL-12 in primary co-cultures of SJL spleen and γ-RCS cells influences the qualitative nature of the response to favor use of RCS-responsive Th1 rather than Th2 cells to facilitate the production of cytotoxic effector cells. Results of in vivo experiments support this hypothesis, as judged by tumor growth assays and FACS analysis of the tumor cell content of lymphoid tissues. Inhibition of lymphoma growth was observed in mice given γ-RCS/IL-12-induced effector cells prior to injection of viable RCS cells. These results demonstrate that IL-12 can be used to alter the host immune response leading to induction of cytotoxic effector cells that inhibit the development and/or progressive growth of otherwise resistant B cell lymphomas in SJL/J mice.