Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells show the decreased expression of T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex on their surfaces in vivo. It is well known that excess amounts of antigen modulate TCR/CD3 complex on antigen-specific T lymphocytes. We hypothesized that antigen receptor of ATL cells was down-regulated with some antigenic stimulation in vivo, which might play an important role in leukemogenesis. In order to test this possibility, we studied whether the fresh ATL cells from three cases would respond to autologous and allogeneic lymphoid cell lines. In two of three cases, ATL cells could proliferate in the presence of autologous cell lines. In one case, this proliferation could be completely inhibited by anti-CD3 and anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ monoclonal antibodies, indicating that ATL cells recognized self HLA-DQ. In another case, the proliferation was suppressed by anti-CD3 and HLA-DR antibodies. These findings showed that ATL cells of some cases were derived from autoreactive T lymphocytes and such stimulation via TCR/CD3 complex plays an important role in the leukemogenesis of ATL in vivo.