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Free access | 10.1172/JCI109319

Interaction of Choriocarcinoma Cells and Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes: RESISTANCE OF CULTURED CHORIOCARCINOMA CELLS TO CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY BY MITOGEN-ACTIVATED LYMPHOCYTES

Charles S. August, Sheila T. Cox, and Michael A. Naughton

Department of Pediatrics (Hematology), University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Find articles by August, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Pediatrics (Hematology), University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Find articles by Cox, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Pediatrics (Hematology), University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Division of Perinatal Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80262

Find articles by Naughton, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published March 1, 1979 - More info

Published in Volume 63, Issue 3 on March 1, 1979
J Clin Invest. 1979;63(3):428–436. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI109319.
© 1979 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published March 1, 1979 - Version history
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Abstract

Cultured choriocarcinoma (Be Wo) cells exist that share many of the morphologic and bio-synthetic properties of normal human trophoblasts. In an attempt to develop a model for the immunologic relationship between a sensitized mother and fetus, we mixed Be Wo cells with mitogen-activated cytotoxic lymphocytes in vitro. Be Wo cells were resistant to the cytolytic effects of the activated lymphocytes despite 24-h exposure and intimate cell-to-cell contact as determined by microscopy. Control target cells, a line of human hepatoma cells, were readily destroyed. Cytotoxicity was measured by determining residual radioactivity of [3H]thymidine-labeled target cells after exposure to activated lymphocytes. Employing the quantitative assay, we confirmed the morphologic results and showed that Be Wo and a number of other choriocarcinoma cell lines were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of lymphocytes activated by phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures. Moreover, Be Wo cells were resistant to injury over a wide range of killer to target cell ratios. Significant killing of the Be Wo cells occurred only after prolonged exposure (48 and 72 h) to the activated lymphocytes.

We suggest that one mechanism that may assist the fetus (or a choriocarcinoma) in its immunologic survival is the intrinsic resistance of trophoblast cells to lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.

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