Prolongation of liver allograft survival by donor-specific soluble transplantation antigens and antigen-antibody complexes.
Soluble transplantation antigens were prepared from chacma baboon spleen cell membranes by a modified 3 M KCl technique.  The extracts were soluble according to usually accepted criteria.  Molecular weight was 37,700 daltons.  Antigenicity was confirmed by inhibition of cytotoxicity of alloantibody.  The antigens stimulated sensitized lymphocytes in culture but failed to stimulate unsensitized lymphocytes.  Antigen-antibody complexes were assembled in vitro in the regions of equivalence and marked antigen excess.  Administration of a single dose of soluble donor antigen at the time of orthotopic liver allotransplantation prolonged graft survival significantly.  Concomitant administration of a polyspecific alloantibody, previously shown to prolong baboon liver allograft survival, abrogated the graft prolongation produced by the antigen or antibody given alone.  When the administration of the soluble antigen was preceded by a dose of cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), graft prolongation was slightly curtailed. Antecedent administration of azathioprine and prednisolone for 3 days seemed to render the antigen immunogenic in that liver allograft rejection was accelerated.  Antigen-antibody complexes at equivalence prolonged liver allograft survival beyond that seen with antigen alone, but complexes in marked antigen excess were immunogenic, inasmuch as graft survival was not prolonged and the histological features were those of accelerated rejection.
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008055:Lipids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010215:Papio; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012995:Solubility; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014316:Tritium
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D012313:RNA; D013936:Thymidine