The immunosuppressive effect of the graft-versus-host reaction in mice

Abstract

The graft-verus-host (GVH) reaction suppresses both cellular and humoral immune responses and is often lethal. Studies were performed to determine whether the GVH reaction itself could be altered by various cell treatments. GVH reactions were induced in adult CBA X A F1 mice by the injection of various doses of parental (A strain) lymphoid cells. Later the GVH animals received either an A strain thymus graft (PTG), CAF1 thymus graft (FITG) CAF1 bone marrow cells (SM)) CAF1 spleen graft (SG), F1TG and SM) F1TG and SG) or sham thymus graft (ST). At the higher cell doses it was found that F1TG by itself, or in combination with SM or SG shortened animal survival time. SM and SG treatment prolonged animal survival time. The results suggest that SM and SG protect F1 animals from the lethal effects of the GVH reaction, whereas F1TG increases the intensity of the GVH reaction