B-Lymphocyte Colony-forming Cells in the SJL/J Mouse Thymus Graft Repopulation: Independence on Host Thymus and Graft Genotype

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Abstract
The development of B[bone marrow-derived]-lymphocyte colony-forming cells (BL-CFC) in SJL and A.SW mouse thymus grafts transplanted into lethally irradiated A.SW mice protected with SJL mouse bone marrow (A.SW-SJL bone marrow chimaeras) was studied. The chimaeric state was confirmed by Ly allotype analysis. High incidence of BL-CFC was found in the A.SW and the SJL thymus grafts, indicating that SJL bone marrow generates BL-CFC, or cells capable of generating BL-CFC, with a high affinity for homing in the thymus irrespective of the genotype of the thymus reticulum. The incidence of BL-CFC in the SJL thymus grafts, however, was approximately 20 times higher than the incidence of BK-CFC in the A.SW thymus grafts. The extensive infiltration of aging SJL thymus glands by BL-CFC demonstrated recently is caused by SJL bone marrow B cells with a high affinity for thymus homing and the specific property of the SJL thymus environment. The extensive infiltration of syngeneic thymus grafts by BL-CFC observed in aging SJL mice occurred independent of an intact host thymus function, indicating the extrathymic origin of these cells.