Studies on transient graft-versus-host disease in BALB/c nude mice injected with allogeneic C57BL/6 splenocytes

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is known to cause profound dysregulation of the immune system, although its effector mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated what factors influenced the development of GVHD. BALB/c nude mice (H-2 d) injected with MHC-disparate B6(H-2 b) spleen cells exhibited transient GVHD such as hunched back, diarrhea, loss of body weight and splenomegaly. No animals died during the period of observation. BALB/c nude mice produced alloantibodies to the donor cells. The injection of the serum from GVHD nude mice into naive nude mice can protect from GVHD. Donor derived H-2 b+ cells were recognized in the recipient lymph nodes and skin. Prevention of GVHD was achieved by the pretreatment of spleen cells with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody or anti-CD4 antibody and complement, while it was not done by the pretreatment of spleen cells with anti-CD8 antibody and complement. These data demonstrate that Thy-1.2 + CD4 + CD8 − lymphocytes are important effector cells and alloantibodies to the donor cells prevent GVHD in this model.