Effect of xenogeneic immune RNA on normal human lymphocytes against human osteosarcoma cells in vitro

New Zealand White rabbits were immunized with whole-cell suspensions of TE-85 cells (from a human osteosarcoma) maintained in tissue culture. RNA was extracted from the lymphoid tissues of the immunized animals. Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were pretreated with both the whole-cell immune RNA (IRNA) and the Sephadex column-eluted fractions of the whole-cell IRNA. Significant stimulation of the cytotoxic effect of the lymphocytes was observed following whole-cell IRNA pretreatment and pretreatment with peak III fractions eluted from the column. This increase in inhibition was observed whether the target cells were TE-85 (the immunizing cells), L.M. and M.Mc. (two unrelated osteosarcoma primary cell cultures), or TE-85-M-MSV cells (a cell line capable of producing a human osteosarcoma in immunosuppressed hamsters). No inhibition was observed when cells from other types of human tumors were used as target cells. The results suggested that the transferred immunity was directed against tumor-specific osteosarcoma antigens.