THE LOCAL XENOGENEIC GRAFT VERSUS HOST-REACTION AS A CLINICAL-TEST FOR IMMUNOCOMPETENCE OF HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES-T

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (2) , 93-105
Abstract
The local xenogeneic graft vs. host reaction (GVHR) [using rats] might serve as a useful clinical assay of the immunocompetence of human T lymphocytes. Additional studies were carried out using purified populations of B, T and null cells and normal mononuclear cell populations, so as to determine the nature of the cells responsible for induction of the reaction and further delineate the factors capable of modifying this pattern of reactivity. Populations of T cells alone gave the largest reaction; B cells from patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia and null cells from patients with acute lymphatic leukemia failed completely to induce a GVHR. The addition of anti-T-lymphocytic serum abolished the reaction, providing further proof of the role played by T lymphocytes. Thymic hormone (THF) enhanced the reaction when applied in vivo and in vitro. The immunostimulatory agents transfer factor and levamisole enhanced the GVHR obtained with normal mononuclear cells. Cytoxan had an enhancing effect at low doses and an inhibiting effect at high doses. Trypsin acted to abolish the GVHR. The combination of 2 populations of normal mononuclears always gave a larger GVHR, indicating allogeneic antigen stimulation. Depletion of the monocytes from the population of normal mononuclears resulted in a smaller reaction, providing further evidence that monocytes are required for T lymphocyte antigen-induced reactivity. The local xenogeneic GVHR probably is a useful clinical test for the measurement of immunocompetence of T lymphocytes, for the differential diagnosis of leukemias and for the determination of the effectiveness of THF.

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