scholarly journals IMMUNOCOMPETENCE OF SPLEEN CELLS FROM NEONATALLY THYMECTOMIZED MICE CONFERRED IN VITRO BY A SYNGENEIC THYMUS EXTRACT

1969 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Trainin ◽  
Myra Small ◽  
Amiela Globerson

Impaired immunological competence of spleen cells from neonatally thymectomized C57B1/6 young adult mice was apparent when these cells were tested in an in vitro graft-versus-host assay. Spleen cell inocula prepared from thymectomized mice did not induce enlargement of (C3H/eb x C57BI/6)F1 newborn spleen explants, whereas the same number of cells from intact donors consistently initiated splenomegaly. Spleen enlargement was observed, however, when the explants were challenged by cells from thymectomized donors in the presence of syngeneic thymus extract, indicating that the spleen cells in suspension attained immunological competence under the influence of a non-cellular component of the thymus. Immunocompetence was also evident when the cells from thymectomized donors were first incubated with thymus extract for 1 hr and subsequently tested for reactivity. Cells from the same thymectomized donor mice exposed in parallel to extracts from syngeneic spleen or mesenteric lymph node at an equivalent protein concentration did not initiate a graft-versus-host response. These experiments demonstrate that immune reactivity in the graft-versus-host response involves activation of lymphoid cells by a humoral factor of the thymus acting directly upon these cells.

1973 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Tigelaar ◽  
Richard Asofsky

Spleen cells from normal adult mice were injected into lethally irradiated adult syngeneic recipients. 24 h later, cell suspensions were prepared from the recipients' spleens or peripheral lymph nodes and tested either alone or combined for their capacity to elicit graft-versus-host (GVH) reactions in neonatal F1 recipients, using the Simonsen spleen weight assay. Either the lymph node-seeking subpopulation or the spleen-seeking subpopulation alone was markedly deficient in its ability to provide a GVH reaction when compared with the normal population from which it was derived. However, an appropriate mixture of the two had a reactivity characteristic of the parent population. Both subpopulations were sensitive to treatment with anti-θ antibody and complement in vitro. These results provide a convincing demonstration of the functional heterogeneity within the pool of thymus-derived cells present in a single normal lymphoid tissue. They strongly suggest that the normal expression of GVH reactivity of such a tissue involves an interaction among distinct subpopulations of thymus-derived cells.


1970 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey Cantor ◽  
Richard Asofsky ◽  
Norman Talal

The ability of spleen cells from young (3 month) and old (1 yr) NZB mice to induce GVH reactions in newborn C57BL/6N mice was compared quantitatively using the Simonsen spleen assay. Young NZB cells were five times more reactive than cells from older mice. The minimum number of cells producing detectable reactions was 2 x 106 for the young and 10 x 106 for the old. Young and old cells combined and injected together produced GVH reactions quantitatively similar to those obtained with inocula composed of young cells alone. Mixtures of two cell populations producing no detectable reactions when injected separately into different recipients (1 x 106 young cells and 4 x 106 old cells) produced reactions approximately equal to those obtained with 5 x 106 young cells. As few as 0.25 x 106 young cells were sufficient to effect a reaction when combined with 4.75 x 106 old unreactive cells. Viability of both cell populations was essential for GVH reactivity. This evidence of synergy in GVH reactions indicates that old NZB spleen cells can be rendered immunologically more reactive in the presence of a normally reactive population.


1971 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 786-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myra Small ◽  
Nathan Trainin

The hypothesis that cells located in mouse bone marrow can acquire immunological competence by a process that involves interaction with a noncellular component of the thymus was tested using an in vitro assay of graft-versus-host reactivity as a criterion of cell competence. When suspensions of C57BL bone marrow cells were incubated in thymus extract and injected into mice incapable of inducing a response in the graft-versus-host assay as a result of neonatal thymectomy, or adult thymectomy plus irradiation, or because of genetic similarity with the (C3H x C57BL)F1 tissue used for challenge in the assay, competent cells were recovered from the spleens of the injected mice. The reactive cells were shown to be of bone marrow origin since immune reactivity was related to the genetic makeup of the bone marrow cells rather than that of the intermediate recipients. A thymic factor was involved in the process leading to immune reactivity by these cells, as bone marrow cells incubated in xenogeneic or syngeneic thymic extracts induced a graft-versus-host response after passage through nonresponsive mice, whereas incubation of bone marrow cells in xenogeneic lymph node or spleen extracts or in culture medium only did not lead to subsequent reactivity. Participation of peripheral lymphoid tissue seemed essential in this process since bone marrow cells tested directly after exposure to thymic extract failed to induce a graft-versus-host response. C57BL bone marrow cells exposed to thymus extract and cultured together with fragments of (C3H x C57BL)F1 spleen tissue in vitro were competent to induce a graft-versus-host response; thus, these components would seem to be sufficient as well as necessary for the immunodifferentiation process leading to graft-versus-host activity. It is concluded that one step in the process by which bone marrow cells acquire competence vis-a-vis the graft-versus-host response depends upon a thymic agent that is noncellular and extractable, and that another stage in this process is under the influence of components found within the peripheral lymphoid tissue environment. It is suggested that differentiation of precursor cells to competence could occur by progressive development of the cells in separate compartments of the lymphoid system.


1970 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
pp. 885-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Trainin ◽  
Myra Small

By means of an assay of graft-versus-host activity some properties of the thymic humoral factor which confers immunocompetence upon lymphoid cells in vitro have been studied. Allogeneic and xenogeneic thymic preparations were found to activate lymphoid cells from neonatally thymectomized mice, enabling initiation of a graft-versus-host response. Thus, this thymus factor is apparently neither strain nor species specific. The active principle of calf thymus extracts was found to be in the supernatant after prolonged ultracentrifugation. When exhaustive dialysis and ultrafiltration through Diaflo membranes were performed, the active thymus agent was found to pass through both the dialysis sac and Diaflo UM-2 membranes. The molecule which confers immunocompetence upon lymphoid cells thus seems to be of molecular weight of an order of magnitude of 1000 or less. Dialyzed thymus preparations injected into neonatally thymectomized mice also restored the capacity of spleen cells of these mice to induce graft-versus-host activity. When injected into intact mice, thymus extract also increased the proportion of competent cells in the spleens of these animals, probably by activation of target cells originating outside the spleen.


1973 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 1293-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene E. Emeson ◽  
Donald R. Thursh

Graft-vs.-host (GVH)-induced lymphadenopathy of the popliteal lymph node has been produced in C57BL/6 x A/J F1 (BAF1) mice by injecting A/J spleen cells into the rear footpads. By giving 51Cr-labeled BAF1 lymphoid cells intravenously to the hosts, 24 h before sacrifice, we have demonstrated that a large portion of the GVH-induced lymphadenopathy is due to the trapping of circuating lymphocytes in the challenged lymph nodes. Most of the remaining enlargement can be attributed to proliferation of host cells within the reacting lymph nodes. Conditions have been defined under which the weights and [14C]thymidine incorporation of the popliteal nodes can be plotted against the dose of injected A/J spleen cells on a double-log scale to give a linear dose-response. The popliteal lymph node GVH assay is a simple and effective means of quantitating immune reactivity to histocompatibility antigens in mice.


1970 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey Cantor ◽  
Richard Asofsky

The capacity of cells from different lymphoid tissues obtained from Balb/c mice to produce graft-vs.-host (GVH) reactions was quantitatively determined in C57BL/6N by Balb/c F1 hybrid recipients. Synergistic responses were observed when small numbers of cells from lymphoid tissues that were rich in GVH activity such as spleen and femoral lymph node were combined with weakly reactive thymus cells. Thymus and spleen cells obtained from 1-wk old mice were separately inactive but produced moderate GVH reactions when combined in equal proportions. GVH activity of spleen cells from mice thymectomized at 3 days of age was partially restored by the addition of small numbers of spleen or thymus cells from adult mice. Changes in ratio between the two cell populations markedly affected the degree of synergy. Synergy was not observed when Balb/c cells were combined with Balb/c x C57BL/6N F1 hybrid cells and inoculated into C57BL/6N recipients, but was demonstrated when Balb/c and C57BL/6N cells were combined and inoculated into F1 recipients, indicating that a genetic disposition to mount GVH reactions in both populations is required to produce synergy. The data indicate that at least two cell types are necessary for GVH reactions, and that synergy between cell populations results from favorable adjustments in the ratio between these two cell types.


1974 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham I. Kook ◽  
Nathan Trainin

Experiments reported here were performed to understand the mechanism by which THF increases the immunocompetence of spleen cells from NTx mice. Dibutyryl cAMP or substances which increase intracellular levels of cAMP in lymphocytes such as Poly(A:U), theophylline, or PGE2 were shown to mimic the effect of THF and confer reactivity in an in vitro GvH response to spleen cells from NTx mice. Flufenamic acid, an antagonist to PGE2, was shown to inhibit the induction of competence by this substance. It was found that THF induces competence by activating membranal adenyl cyclase which leads to a rise in intracellular cAMP in thymus-derived cells only. These biochemical changes occur before antigenic stimulation and are unrelated to antigenic challenge. These findings indicate that THF exerts its effect via cAMP and are in agreement with the concepts which permit to classify THF as a thymus hormone.


Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 2661-2667
Author(s):  
J Mysliwietz ◽  
S Thierfelder

Abstract A hamster antimouse CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) opened the way to experimental studies on the suppression of allograft rejection and cytokine-related morbidity after treatment with antibodies modulating the CD3/T-cell receptor complex (CD3/TCR). Because earlier attempts to suppress graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients by in vitro treatment of donor marrow with anti-CD3 MoAb had remained inconclusive, we used a rat IgG2b antimouse CD3 MoAb (17A2) with fewer side effects to analyze suppression of GVHD in the mouse model. Detailed phenotyping of blood, spleen, and lymphnode T cells after the injection of 400 micrograms 17A2 in C57BL/6 mice showed 60% CD3 downmodulation and 50% T- cell depletion for spleen cells. Injection of these spleen cells, together with bone marrow cells, in fully mismatched preirradiated CBA mice delayed GVHD by only 6 days. Ex vivo treatment of donor cells with 17A2 was not effective. In contrast, conditioning of marrow recipients with a single injection of 17A2 delayed 50% GVHD mortality by 100 days and prevented GVHD altogether after prolonged treatment, with survivors showing complete chimerism and specific transplantation tolerance. This difference in antibody effect contrasts with earlier experiences with nonmodulating but more strongly T-cell-depleting MoAbs of the same isotype, which prevent GVHD no matter whether applied in vitro or injected into donor or recipient mice. Our data indicate that CD3/TCR reexpression in marrow recipients with no circulating 17A2 is the reason why ex vivo donor cell treatment with anti-CD3 MoAb is comparatively ineffective. Our data, which allow separate evaluation of cell-depleting and cell-modulating antibody activity, help to explain previous clinical failure to suppress GVHD and provide evidence in favor of conditioning the marrow recipient with anti-CD3 MoAb as a therapeutic alternative.


1973 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Forman ◽  
Sven Britton

The cytotoxic effect of spleen cells from H-2 allogeneic mice was tested in vitro against an A strain leukemia (YAC) labeled with [125I]iododeoxyuridine. After the mice were primed with tumor cells, significant and specific H-2 immunity was detected on day 3 and peak cytotoxicity was observed between 7 and 14 days after priming. Two effector cells appear to be involved in the host response, because spleens taken from mice soon after priming were not sensitive to antitheta sera and complement while those taken during the peak stages of the response showed a marked reduction in cytotoxicity after treatment. Macrophages were not involved, since removal of these cells by the carbonyl iron method did not result in any reduction in cytotoxicity. Immune serum that was capable of inducing cell-mediated cytotoxicity in normal spleen cell populations also augmented cytotoxicity of spleen cells taken from mice primed 3 days previously. However, when spleen cells were taken from mice during the peak phase of the immune response, the same serum at the same dilutions inhibited the preexisting cytotoxicity. A difference was also detected in the killing efficiencies between early and late immune cells.


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