title: Cross-species transplantation: NK cell number and function are normal in fully xenogeneic chimeras (rat----mouse).
abstract: When untreated F344 rat bone marrow is transplanted into B10 mouse recipients conditioned with total body irradiation, stable fully xenogeneic chimerism (rat----mouse) results. Chimeras are specifically tolerant to the donor strain of rat, survival is excellent (greater than 80% at 8 months), and all stem-cell-derived lineages are produced by the rat stem cell. We have previously demonstrated normal function of T-lymphocytes in these chimeras, but have not examined the immune function of natural killer (NK) cells present. Because NK cells play a critical role in immune surveillance, absence of function could result in a serious immunodeficiency state. We present data here to suggest that rat NK cells that have developed in a mouse stromal environment are normal in function as well as number. In all fully xenogeneic chimeras tested from 8 weeks to 8 months following bone marrow transplantation, NK cells were present at a normal level (10% to 16%). NK cells function in these chimeras, as tested by spontaneous lysis of YAC tumor cell targets, was normal or superior to normal F344 rat and B10 mouse NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hronakes
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ildstad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002678:Chimera; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous