Perturbation of T-cell differentiation in lethally irradiated rats reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow and treated with cyclosporin-A.
Lethally irradiated rats reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow and treated for 40 or 80 days with Cyclosporin A (Cy-A) contract disease mimicking graft-versus-host disease about 3 weeks after withdrawal of the drug. We investigated the reconstitution of peripheral blood lymphocytes after this treatment. A selective effect on the regeneration of the CD4+ cells was observed. During Cy-A administration CD4(+)-cell regeneration was almost completely suppressed, but within 3 weeks after withdrawal of the drug such cells reappeared in blood and reached pre-irradiation levels about 6 weeks later. The coincidence of the reappearance of CD4+ cells and the onset of autoimmune disease suggests a causal relation between both events.
Bos
G M
GM
Department of Immunology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Majoor
G D
GD
Van Breda Vriesman
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003524:Cyclosporins