Variable capacity of L3T4+ T cells to cause lethal graft-versus-host disease across minor histocompatibility barriers in mice.
Highly purified populations of L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T cell subsets were compared for their capacity to cause lethal GVHD in six different H-2-compatible, multiple minor histocompatibility antigen-different murine strain combinations. In four of these combinations (C3H.SW----B6, DBA/2----B10.D2, B10.BR----CBA, and B10.S----SJL), lethal GVHD appeared to be caused almost entirely by Lyt-2+ cells; the injection of L3T4+ cells resulted in low mortality even when these cells were presensitized to the recipient antigens. In the remaining two combinations (B10.D2----DBA/2 and B10.D2----BALB/c), L3T4+ T cells were able to cause a high incidence of GVHD and were more potent than the Lyt-2+ cells. The implications of these findings are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2