Evidence for two types of non-specific suppressor cells activated by the graft-versus-host reaction in mice.
In vitro experiments were carried out to investigate the immunosuppressive efect of different populations of spleen cells obtained from animal experiencing a graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). To induce the GVHR, parental lymphoid cells were injected into adult F1 hybrid mice. GVHR-activated spleen cells (GVH-sc) taken at different times post-GVHR induction were separated into adherent and non-adherent fractions and treated with anti-theta serum plus complement. The different types of GVH-SC were added to either parental (donor-type) of F1 (host-type) normal spleen cells and cultured with sheep erythrocytes in a modified Marbrook chamber. It was found that both adherent and non-adherent 10-day GVH-SC significantly inhibited the plaque-forming cell response of F1 normal spleen cells but not that of parental normal spleen cells. Significant suppression of the parental response was observed following the addition of 15-day GVH-SC or anti-theta treated adherent and non-adherent 7-day GVH-SC. The results suggest that the non-specific immunosuppressive effect of GVH-SC is mediated by GVHR-activated macrophages and B lymphocytes found in the anti-theta treated adherent and non-adherent fractions of the GVH-SC suspensions respectively.
D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D003165:Complement System Proteins