Leukemia Cell Metabolism in Serum of Normal, Immunized and Leukemic Mice

Immunization to transplantable lymphatic leukemia in mice results from the suitable injection of leukemia cells (4), normal cells (6), or embryonic tissue (3). Naturally susceptible mice so treated are resistant to injections of normally lethal doses of leukemia cells. Histologically (5) line I leukemia cells injected into mice immunized to line I proliferate for only a short time at a reduced rate and within four days show degenerative changes. Necrosis begins at the periphery of a lesion before there is any infiltration of host cells (5). These findings suggested that a humoral mechanism might be responsible for the degenerative changes in the leukemic cells inoculated into immunized mice.