The immune response of mice repeatedly injected with allogeneic tumor cells

The development and kinetics of cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC), antibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (C'DC), and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were studied in an allogeneic model. Using microcytotoxic assays of 51Cr release from labeled EL-4 tumor cells, C'DC, ADCC, and CMC were measured at 14 intervals during the 77-day course of the experiment. The results obtained demonstrate the oscillating nature of the immune response. The rise and fall of activity was almost synchronous for the three functions studied. A generalized trend of increasing antibody-dependent functions and a simultaneous dampening of CMC was noted.