Analysis of T-cell-specific functions in continuous lymphocytic cell lines. II. A T-cell line which forms rosettes...

Four T-cell lines of mouse origin (EL-4, S-49, R-1, and L-5178Y) with similar characteristics (Thy-1-positive, and PHA-sensitive) were tested for reactivity with various antigens. EL-4 cells alone were shown to form rosettes at 4 degrees C with thymocytes (positive for either Thy-1.1 or Thy-1.2) and with Thy-1-positive lymph node cells of various mouse strains. Comparable rosette formation did not occur with Thy-1-negative lymphnode cells or red blood cells, nor with rat or rabbit thymocytes. The thymocytes which attached to the tumor cells formed a cluster at one pole of the cell after warming at 37 degrees C for 10 min. After incubation for 40 min at 37 degrees C, most of the rosettes disappeared. This process was blocked by sodium azide and dinitrophenol, suggesting that the movement of thymocytes to one pole of the tumor cell and subsequent release are energy-dependent. These results suggest that the EL-4 cell line, originally derived from a carcinogen-induced lymphoma of C57BL/6, may have been an autoimmune lymphoma reactive against T cells.