Migratory Behavior of Lymphocytes with Specific Reactivity to Alloantigens

Abstract

Abstract A dual antigen, dual isotope assay has been used to monitor the migratory behavior of selectively labeled anti-allogeneic lymphocytes in mice given an i.v. challenge with semiallogeneic spleen cells. 3H-labeled anti-C3H and 14C-labeled anti-C57BL lymphocytes of DBA/2J origin were pooled and adoptively transferred to two groups of DBA/2J recipients previously challenged i.v. with either (C3H × DBA)F1 or (C57BL × DBA)F1 semi-allogeneic spleen cells. After 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr, a subgroup of four mice from each group were sacrificed and the relative numbers of anti-C3H and anti-C57BL lymphocytes present in the spleens, bone marrows, livers, lymph nodes, intestines, lungs, and bloods of each mouse were inferred from the mean 3H/14C ratios of each tissue of that subgroup. The results of these studies indicated that specific anti-allogeneic lymphocytes were selectively recruited to the spleens, bone marrows, and livers of challenged mice and deleted from their lymph nodes, lungs, intestines, and blood. Similar studies with labeled marker cells enriched for T lymphocytes (and free of macrophages) and labeled marker cells depleted of T lymphocytes with anti-Thy 1.2 serum plus complement indicated that the cells selectively recruited to the spleen, bone marrow, and liver were predominantly but not exclusively T lymphocytes. A direct demonstration of selective recruitment of specifically reactive lymphocytes to bone marrow and liver has not been previously described. The significance and implications of these findings are discussed.