Inhibition of a T-cell-dependent immune response in vitro by thymoma cell immunoglobulin

Concentrated medium obtained from cultures of a continuous thymus-derived mouse lymphoma cell line (WEHI-22.1) was found to inhibit a T-cell-dependent (antidonkey red blood cell), but not a T-cell-independent (anti-DNP) immune response in vitro. Passage of such a concentrate through an anti-mouse Ig immunoadsorbent column removed its inhibitory activity. It is suggested that the tumor cell Ig can compete with specific normal T-cell Ig in its collaborative function in immune responses. A similar mechanism may account for anergy associated with some human lymphoid neoplasms.