Suppression of lymphoproliferative responses to alloantigens by autologous AML cells

Autologous acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), cells caused the suppression of incorporation of 3H-thymidine (3H-Tdr) by remission lymphocytes stimulated with allogeneic cells. In five patients, autologous AML cells suppressed 3H-Tdr uptake by lymphocytes stimulated with up to three different allogeneic cells. Responses to allogeneic AML cells were more strongly suppressed than responses to pooled allogeneic lymphocytes. Suppression was abolished by ultrasonic disintegration of the autologous AML cells, suggesting that a soluble factor was not involved. Suppression was absent from autologous AML cells exposed to ultraviolet light, or when untreated autologous AML cells were present in ratios of less than 1:1 to lymphocytes, or when added 24 or more hours after stimulation of remission lymphocytes with allogeneic cells. It is suggested that suppression is a property of the differentiative level of AML cells, rather than of their malignant properties, although malignant-transformation may bring AML cells into contact with circulating T cells in vivo. Autologous AML cells seem to interfere with the recognition phase of T cell function.