The graft-versus-host reaction and immune function. III. Functional pre-T cells in the bone marrow of graft-versus-host-reactive mice displaying T cell immunodeficiency.
Studies were performed to determine whether pre-T cells develop normally in the bone marrow of mice displaying thymic dysplasia and T cell immunodeficiency as a consequence of a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction. GVH reactions were induced in CBAxAF1 mice by the injection of A strain lymphoid cells. To test for the presence of pre-T cells in GVH-reactive mice, bone marrow from GVH-reactive mice (GVHBM) was injected into irradiated syngeneic F1 mice and 30-40 days later thymic morphology and function were studied. Morphology studies showed nearly normal thymic architectural restoration; moreover, such glands contained normal numbers of Thy-1-positive cells. Functional pre-T cells were evaluated by transferring thymocytes from the irradiated GVHBM-reconstituted mice into T-cell-deprived mice. These thymocytes reconstituted allograft reactivity, T helper cell function and Con A and PHA mitogen responses of T-cell-deprived mice. These results suggest that the pre-T cell population in the bone marrow is not affected by the GVH reaction. Therefore, the T cell immunodeficiency associated with the GVH reaction is not due to a deficiency of pre-T cells in the bone marrow but is more likely associated with GVH-induced thymic dysplasia.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D004062:DiGeorge Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*