The Cultivation of Tissues in Vitro as a Method for the Study of Cytotoxins

Abstract

1. Theoretically, the method of cultivating tissues outside the body offers an ideal technique for the demonstration and study of cytotoxins. 2. Mouse sarcoma, which grows vigorously in the plasma of normal rats, shows little or no activity in the plasma of rats immunized by mouse sarcoma injections. 3. Rat sarcoma, readily cultivated in the plasma of normal guinea pigs, either remains quite inactive, or presents a feeble growth in the plasma of guinea pigs previously treated with rat tissues. 4. The inhibition of growth in cultures of rat and mouse sarcomata in plasma from animals of a foreign species immunized against these tissues, is due, in all probability, to the action of cytotoxins.

Immune Phenomena Elicited by Transplanted Tumors. Ii. Cytotoxic Effects of Immune Guinea Pig Sera on Mouse Cancer Cells

“…It is well known, however, that body fluids having a direct, injurious action on heterografts may be demonstrated by the methods of tissue culture (Harris, 1943). As Harris reminds us, earlier workers in cancer research (Lambert and Hanes, 1911;Lumsden et al, 1934) were interested in cytotoxins as a possible antiserum against tumor cells, rather than in their significance as a factor in the transplantation of tissues. Subsequent work has not, as yet, substantiated the hopes of these workers.…”

A Note on the Specificity of Cytotoxins

“…We have used a technique which appears to possess some advantages over previous methods; namely, the cultivation of tissues in vitro. By this method, as was suggested in a former communication (26), active living cells may be exposed to the action of immune sera, under conditions where the effects of such disturbing factors as agglutination, thrombosis, and hemorrhages can be eliminated.…”

Leukoagglutination: Relation of Leukemia to Cancer

“…Previous workers (4,6,9,10) were unable to agglutinate leukocytes with antileukocytic sera and ascribed the difficulty to cytotoxic action. Hueper and Russell (6) expressed the view that tissue culture was the only satisfactory method for determining the presence of leukocyte antibodies.…”

“…Antisera for lower animal and human leukocytes had been produced previously by several investigators (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Previous workers (4,6,9,10) were unable to agglutinate leukocytes with antileukocytic sera and ascribed the difficulty to cytotoxic action.…”