The graft-versus-host reaction and immune function. II. Recruitment of pre-T-cells in vivo by graft-versus-host-induced dysplastic thymuses following irradiation and bone marrow treatment

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Transplantation; (United States)

OSTI ID:6963559

Seddik, M; Seemayer, T A; Lapp, W S

The graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction induces thymic dysplasia and an arrest in T cell differentiation. Studies were performed to test the effect of irradiation and reconstitution with bone marrow on GVH-induced thymic dysplasia and T cell differentiation. GVH reactions were induced in CBAxAF1 adult mice by the injection of A strain lymphoid cells. All GVH-reactive mice were immunosuppressed by day 7 after GVH induction and thymic dysplasia was evident by day 24. Forty days after the induction of the GVH reaction the mice were irradiated (850 rads) and repopulated with 10-15 X 10(6) syngeneic or parental bone marrow cells. Thirty days after irradiation and bone marrow reconstitution, GVH-reactive mice were used for histological and functional studies. These mice displayed near-normal thymus morphology with scattered epithelial cells in the medulla, and normal numbers of Thy-1-positive cells. Donor cells had totally repopulated thymuses of irradiated bone marrow reconstituted mice by day 19 after irradiation. T helper cell function did not recover in the reconstituted mice. These results suggest that (1) the process responsible for GVH-induced thymic dysplasia is radiosensitive, and (2) the thymus has the potential to regenerate a normal structure, but fails to regain normal function.

• Research Organization: Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6963559
• Journal Information: Transplantation; (United States), Journal Name: Transplantation; (United States) Vol. 37:3; ISSN TRPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BONE MARROW CELLS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
GRAFT-HOST REACTION
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMOCYTES
THYMUS
TRANSPLANTS