Effect of irradiation on rat renal transplant rejection.
Leucocytes were selectively eliminated either from a DA renal allograft or from a WF host by irradiation of either the host or the graft on different days after the transplantation. The recovery of inflammatory leucocytes and the generation of lymphoid killer cells--that is, the natural killer (NK) cells and the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)--were analysed separately in the two compartments. Early irradiation of the graft did not affect the recovery of leucocytes in either compartment. The NK activity was only slightly reduced in the graft but was distinctly reduced in the spleen. A delay in the generation of the CTL activity was observed in the spleen. Late irradiation of the graft reduced the recovery of leucocytes in both compartments. The disappearance of the NK activity increased in the graft but not in the spleen. The CTL activity in the spleen developed normally up to day 6, whereafter it declined. After selective irradiation of the host a fair number of leucocytes remained in the graft, compared with a nearly complete disappearance of leucocytes from the graft and blood. The NK and CTL activity declined rapidly in both compartments. The data demonstrate a bidirectional interdependence between the graft and the host during the rejection.
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000528:radiation effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000528:radiation effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000528:radiation effects; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation