Suppression of antibody responses in allogeneic mice by products of lymphoid tissue. I. Allogeneic suppressive factor (ASF) from spleens repopulated with thymus cells

A cellfree extract prepared from the spleen cells of C3H mice is capable of suppressing antibody responses to SRBC when extract material is exposed to alloantigens. The observed immunosuppression was attributed to a soluble factor in the extract. This allogeneic suppressive factor (ASF) was detected in extracts prepared from the spleen cells of unirradiated mice as well as those of irradiated mice repopulated with thymocytes, provided that mice were previously immunized with SRBC. Donors of actively suppressive ASF preparations did not need to be previously exposed to alloantigens. Extracts from thymus and marrow cells of unirradiated mice and the spleen cells of irradiated mice repopulated with marrow cells (or no cells) did not contain ASF. C3H thymocytes stimulated with SRBC generated more ASF activity in spleens of C3BF1 hosts than in those of C3H hosts, indicating that alloantigenic stimulation enhances the production or activity of ASF. Once produced, C3H ASF was able to suppress antibody responses in cell transfer experiments only if exposed to C3BF alloantigens of either donor lymphoid cells or irradiated hosts. Once exposed to alloantigens, ASF appears to be capable of suppressing antibody responses of syngeneic C3H or semi-allogeneic C3BF cells. When both donor lymphoid cells and hosts were syngeneic with the donor of the ASF, there was enhancement of antibody formation in cell transfer experiments. C3H ASF did not interfere with education of C3BF thymocytes to SRBC or with the generation of precursors of anti-SRBC antibody-forming cells by C3BF1 marrow cells. ASF may interfere with cellular cooperative events necessary for humoral immune responses or with terminal differentiation of B cells. Production of ASF could partially account for the suppression of antibody responses observed during graft-vs-host reactions.

Suppression of antibody responses in allogeneic mice by products of lymphoid tissue. II. Lack of antigenic specificity and immunogenetic requirements of allogeneic suppressive factor (ASF)

Mice were irradiated, infused with thymocytes and immunized with a variety of antigens, i.e., sheep or horse red blood cells (SRBC or HRBC), diphtheria toxoid (DT) or bovine gamma-globulin (BGG). The spleen cells (T.Spleen cells) were harvested 5 days later and cellfree extracts were prepared. The extracts contained an allogeneic suppressive factor (ASF) that was capable of inhibiting IgM antibody responses of allogeneic or semi-allogeneic unirradiated mice. ASF had to be injected within 24 hr of immunization to be effective and a single injection delayed, rather than abolished, the antibody response at the cellular level. However, daily injections of ASF resulted in persistent suppression of antibody response. ASF activity was antigen nonspecific, i.e., the antigen used to stimulate ASF production did not have to be the same as the antigen used to test for ASF activity. C3H T.Spleen extracts were even immunosuppressive when prepared by exposure to C3BF1 alloantigens only; such extracts suppressed antibody responses of C3BF1 and DBA/2 mice. C3H ASF was removed from extracts after incubation with C3BF1 spleen cells but not after incubation with C3H spleen cells. C3BF1 spleen cells which had been preincubated with C3H ASF were unable to generate antibody-forming cells upon transfer to irradiated C3BF1 host mice. This suggests that the ASF molecule may be or include receptors for alloantigens. The immunogenetic requirements for ASF activity were evaluated by injecting extracts from C3H, C57BL, C3BF and BALB/c T.Spleen cells into C3H, CBA, C57BL, BALB/c, DBA/2, A or C3H.A recipient mice. All extracts tested had ASF activity. However, all allogeneic recipients were not suppressed by the extract material. The suppressive activity of ASF seemed to require two (or more) antigenic differences between donors and recipients of extract material, an H-2K or I antigen difference and a second antigen difference, possibility Ig-1. In the limited numbers of strain combinations tested, T.Spleen extracts suppressed IgM antibody response only if exposed to H-2 and Ig-1 antigens, e.g., BALB/c (H-2d, Ig-1a) ASF suppressed A (H-2a, Ig-1e) but not C3H.A (H-2a, Ig-1a) or DBA/2 (H-2d, Ig-1c). Separate ASF molecules may react with separate antigens on the cell surface, i.e., with H-2 and gammaG2a. Alternatively, one ASF molecule may react with two structurally associated antigens. If the latter is correct, it is conceivable that the beta2-microglobulin which is non-covalently linked to the major component of H-2 molecules expresses allotypic antigens coded for by Ig-1 and beta2-microglobulin is one of the antigens recognized by ASF.

Mechanisms of genetic resistance to Friend virus leukemia. III. Susceptibility of mitogen-responsive lymphocytes mediated by T cells

Friend leukemia virus (FV) suppressed the proliferative responses of spleen, lymph node, marrow, and thymus cell populations to various T- and B-cell mitogens. Cells taken from mice, e.g. BALB/c genetically susceptible to leukemogenesis in vivo were much more susceptible to suppression of mitogenesis in vitro than similar cells from genetically resistant mice, e.g., C57BL/6. Nylon wool-purified splenic T cells from BALB/c and C3H mice lost susceptibility to FV-induced suppression of mitogenesis but became suppressible by addition of 10% unfiltered spleen cell. Thus, FV mediates in vitro suppression of lymphocyte proliferation indirectly by "activating" a suppressor cell. The suppressor cell adhered to nylon wool but not to glass wool or rayon wool columns. Pretreatment of spleen cells with carbonyl iron and a magnet did not abrogate the suppressor cell function. Suppressor cells were not eliminated by treatment with rabbit antimouse immunoglobulin (7S) and complement (C). However, high concentrations of anti-Thy-1 plus C destroyed suppressor cells of the spleen; thymic suppressor cells were much more susceptible to anti-Thy-1 serum. Nude athymic mice were devoid of suppressor cells and their B-cell proliferation was relatively resistant to FV-induced suppression in vitro. The suppressor cells in the thymus (but not in the spleen) were eliminated by treatment of mice with cortisol. Thus, FV appears to mediate its suppressive effect on mitogen-responsive lymphocytes by affecting "T-suppressor cells." Spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice treated with 89Sr to destroy marrow-dependent (M) cells were much more suppressible by FV in virto than normal C57BL/6 spleen cells. However, nylon-filtered spleen cells of 89Sr-treated C57BL/6 mice were resistant to FV-induced suppression in vitro, indicating that the susceptibility of spleen cells from 89Sr-treated B6 mice is also mediated by suppressor cells. Normal B6 splenic T cells were rendered susceptible to FV-induced suppression of mitogenesis by addition of 10% spleen cells from 89Sr-treated B6 mice. Thus, M cells appear to regulate the numbers and/or functions of T-suppressor cells which in turn mediate the immunosuppressive effects of FV in vitro. Neither mitogen-responsive lymphocytes nor T-suppressor cells are genetically resistant or susceptible to FV. The genetic resistance to FV is apparently a function of M cells, both in vitro as well as in vivo.

Mechanisms of genetic resistance to Friend virus leukemia in mice. II. Resistance of mitogen-responsive lymphocytes mediated by marrow-dependent cells

Friend leukemia virus suppresses the proliferative responses of normal thymus-dependent (T) and bursa equivalent-dependent (B) lymphocytes from spleen, thymus, lymph node, and bone marrow to mitogens. The suppressive effect of Friend virus complex (FV) requires fully infectious virions. Friend erythroleukemic cells, washed to removed extracellular virus, fail to suppress concanavalin A (Con-A)-induced mitogenesis of normal spleen cells. This indicates that FV does not mediate its immunosuppressive effect via transformed erythropoietic cells. The in vitro suppressive effect of FV on lymphocyte mitogenesis is under host genetic control. Spleen, bone marrow, and thymus cells from strains of mice susceptible to FV-induced leukemogenesis in vivo were quite susceptible to the suppressive effects of FV in vitro. On the other hand, similar cells from strains of mice such as C57BL/6 resistant to Friend erythroleukemia, were quite resistant to in virto immunosuppression by FV. Mitogenesis of splenic T cells from resistant B6 mice, previously treated with 89Sr, became susceptible to suppression by FV. This indicated that the in vitro resistance of lymphocytes to FV-induced suppression is not an intrinsic property of T cells, but is controlled by marrow-dependent (M) cells which are selectively eliminated by treatment with 89Sr. M-cell function does not develop in mice less than 3-wk old. The Con A response by thymus cells from 2-wk-old B6 mice was susceptible to suppression by FV, further supporting the concept that M cells may regulate the genetic resistance to FV.

Loss of marrow allograft resistance in mice with transplanted methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas

To determine if the effector cells responsible for allogeneic marrow stem cell rejections were suppressed in mice with tumors, C57BL/6 (B6) mice were inoculated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced sarcoma cells. When the tumor reached 2.0--2.5 cm in diameter, these mice and control B6 and (BALB/c times A)F1 (CAF1) uninoculated animals were irradiated and given BALB/c marrow cells in the first of a two-step "stem cell rescue" experiment. Four days later, spleen cells of the primary hosts were reinoculated into irradiated CAF1 secondary hosts compatible with BALB/c marrow cells and immunized against B6 antigens. Splenic uptake (percent) of 125I-5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine 5 days after spleen cell regrafting was used as a measure of cell proliferation and reflected growth of the stem cells in the primary hosts. BALB/c stem cells grew as well in B6 mice with tumors as in CAF1 primary hosts but were rejected by B6 controls. Seeding efficiency of BALB/c stem cells 6 hours after infusion of marrow cells and growth of syngeneic B6 stem cells were enhanced twofold in spleens of tumor-bearing B6 mice. To exclude the possibility that enhanced seeding resulted in greater survival of allogeneic stem cells, more DBA/2 marrow cells were infused into control B6 primary hosts than into tumor-bearing B6 and control DBA/2 mice. Control B6 mice resisted growth of even 7.5 times 10(6) DBA/2 marrow cells, whereas B6 tumor bearers allowed growth of 2.5 times 10(6) cells. No "suppressor cells" capable of inhibiting marrow cell allograft reactions were detected in spleens of tumor-bearing mice. Thus transplanted syngeneic MCA-induced sarcomas abrogated the ability of mice to reject allogeneic marrow stem cells.

Casein-induced experimental amyloidosis. V. The response of lymphoid organs to T and B mitogens

Functional and morphologic studies were performed on the lymphoid organs of inbred CBA/J mice receiving chronic casein administration. In the spleen, this regimen produces marked reticuloendothelial proliferation between 8 and 16 injections (preamyloid phase) and amyloid deposition between 16 and 24 injections. No amyloid was found in the thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow of these animals. Phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A lymphocyte responses as measured by 3-H-thymidine incorporation were reduced in the spleen and lymph node of preamyloid animals but demonstrated partial recovery during the amyloid phase. Phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A stimulation of thymic cells was significantly increased during both stages of amyloid induction, although the histologic studies revealed a marked involution of the thymic cortex. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of spleen cells was normal in preamyloid and amyloid animals whereas in lymph node and bone marrow lipopolysaccharide responses were significantly decreased. The findings suggest a selective removal of subsets of T cell populations in the spleen and thymus and migration of B cells from bone marrow to the spleen during experimental amyloidosis.

Long-term survival of cardiac allografts in lethally irradiated rats repopulated with host-type hemopoietic cells

To test the hypothesis that hemopoietic cells within a tissue graft are responsible for its immunogenicity, two experimental protocols were followed. LEW hearts were grafted into (LEW X BN)F-1 host rats and LEW or F-1 lymphocytes were injected into the apex of the grafted heart. The LEW but not the F-1 cells induced a local reaction, apparently because the circulating F-1 cells were the necessary immunogens. The second protocol took advantage of the knowledge that lethally irradiated LEW rats were able to reject WF Ag-B-incompatible hemopoietic cells (but not tissue allografts) within a few days. LEW rats were lethally irradiated and grafted with WF hearts on day 0. A mixture of LEW marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph node cells, or marrow cells only were infused either on day 0 or day 2. Cardiac allografts in hosts repopulated with the mixture of lymphoid cells survived a mean of 11.3 days in hosts infused on day 0, but survived indefinitely if the lymphoid cells were infused on day 2. The 2-day interval also prolonged the survival of allografts in rats infused with only marrow cells. The long-term recipients, without any further treatment, rejected WF skin grafts as first-set reactions 1 year later but did not reject second WF cardiac allografts. Lymphoid cells from long-term recipients imparied the rejection of WF cardiac allografts by LEW host rats. The lack of rejection of the original cardiac allograft supported the hypothesis tested. Certain hemopoietic cells responsible for the immunogenicity of cardiac allografts were probably eliminated in the 2-day interval at least in part by host effector cells capable of rejecting allogeneic hemopoietic cells. However, the mechanism of long-term "unresponsiveness" to WF hearts could have been caused by loss of accessory cells during the 2-day interval followed by infusion of immunocompetent cells. Skin rejections in these recipients may have been attributable to reactions against skin differentiation-specific antigens.

Mechanisms of genetic resistance to friend virus leukemia in mice

Resistance to malignant erythropoiesis induced by Friend spleen focus-forming virus and resistance to marrow stem cell allografts are under genetic control. Strains of mice, e.g., C57BL/6 and B10.D2, which are homozygous for resistance at the Fv-2 locus, are also good rejectors of most bone marrow allografts. (89)Sr, a bone-seeking isotope, irradiates marrow but not other lymphoid organs and abrogates resistance to marrow allografts without suppressing T- or B-cell functions. Thus, marrow-dependent effector cells (M cells) seem to resist allogeneic stem cells. To test if the genetic resistance to Friend virus (FV) is also mediated by M cells, B6 mice were treated with (89)Sr using a dosage schedule known to abrogate resistance to allogeneic marrow cells. 9 days after FV infection of such mice, the spleens showed malignant erythroblastosis which could not be suppressed by prior hypertransfusion, a procedure which suppresses physiologic erythropoiesis. Such (89)Sr-treated B6 mice also supported extensive virus replication, while control mice did not. FV markedly suppressed the ability of (89)Sr-treated B6 mice to produce antisheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibodies, a feature seen normally only in genetically susceptible mice. Thus, (89)Sr-treated B6 mice behaved in these respects as if they were susceptible to FV. When increasing doses of (89)Sr were administered to B6 mice, a dose-related loss of resistance to FV was seen. Therefore, it appears that (89)Sr-sensitive M cells mediate the genetic resistance to FV. The results of experiments with (89)Sr indicated that genetically resistant mice would be expected to possess target cells which are susceptible to transformation by FV. To verify this corollary, bone marrow cells from B10.D2 (Fv-2(rr)) mice were transplanted into previously infected and lethally irradiated DBA/2 (Fv-2(ss)) recipients which share the same H-2(d) alleles. 5-15 days later, the spleens of DBA/2 primary recipients yielded transformed cells which were capable of producing splenic tumor colonies upon transplantation into adult, unirradiated B10.D2 secondary recipients. Various control experiments clearly indicated that the tumor colonies so induced were of B10.D2 marrow origin. This indicated that B10.D2 stem cells could be transformed when allowed to interact with FV in the spleens of susceptible DBA/2 mice. However, 30 days after transplantation of B10.D2 bone marrow cells into DBA/2 recipients, no transformed cells were detected. Apparently, in the 30-day interval precursors in the B10.D2 marrow gave rise to mature M cells which resisted the leukemic process. Since M cells recognize hybrid or hemopoietic histocompatability antigens expressed on primitive normal and transformed hematopoietic cells, we suggest that M cells may exert surveillance by rejecting leukemic cells. Thus, marrow transplantation from genetically resistant donors may provide a new mode of treatment for leukemia, by providing precursors of M cells and other immunocompetent cell types.

Graft-versus-host reactions in mice. 3. Epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells of thymic origin

Thymus cells from C3H donor mice were infused into lethally irradiated (C3H x C57BL/10)F(1) hybrid mice. Light and electron microscopic examination of the lymphoid tissues of recipients revealed the presence of epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells in addition to lymphocytes and histiocytes. Serial transplantation of thymus-derived cells into irradiated F(1) hybrid mice resulted in a preponderance of epithelioid cells over lymphocytes. Epithelioid cells, as well as lymphocytes and histiocytes, incorporated (3)H-thymidine, indicating that they were actively proliferating. Following transplantation of CBA-T6T6 thymocytes into irradiated (C3H x C57BL/10)F(1) mice, karyotypic analysis of host lymphoid tissues indicated that all dividing cells were of donor origin. Whereas bone marrow is known to give rise to epithelioid cells in the absence of thymic influences, the thymus must also contain precursors of epithelioid cells.

Graft-versus-host reactions in mice. IV. Thymus cell suppression of antibody formation

The ability of transplanted marrow-thymus cell mixtures to generate antibody-forming cells in irradiated syngeneic or F(1) hybrid mice when immunized with sheep erythrocytes 18 hours later was determined. Much fewer anti-sheep plaque-forming cells (PFC) were detected in spleens of F(1) hybrid mice. Adrenalectomy, use of infant recipient mice, or preimmunization of donors or hosts did not prevent the suppression; the grafting of irradiated donor-type spleen cells (source of "accessory" cells) produced only an additive effect. Parental marrow and thymus cells were able to generate new precursors of PFC and specific inducer cells, respectively, in spleens of F(1) hybrid mice, as detected by two-step experiments utilizing parent-strain secondary recipient mice. The suppression depended upon transferring parental strain thymus cells into F(1) hybrid mice and was seen irrespective of the marrow donor strain. When irradiated mice were immunized twice (on the day of transplantation and 4 days later), there was only marginal suppression of antibody production when marrow cells only or marrow plus thymus cells were transplanted. Thus, it appears that an excess of thymus-derived "suppressor" cells is generated upon exposure to alloantigens and inhibit terminal differentiation of antibody-forming cells in a noncytotoxic manner. Mature PFC themselves were not the targets of suppression. The method of immunization probably determines the relative functional capacity of thymus-derived "helper" and suppressor cells.

Peculiar immunobiology of bone marrow allografts. II. Rejection of parental grafts by resistant F 1 hybrid mice

F(1) hybrid mice are capable of rejecting inbred parental strain bone marrow grafts after a single lethal exposure to X-rays. The incompatibility is genetically controlled by the Hybrid-histocompatibility-1 (Hh-1) locus in or near the D end of the Histocompatibility-2 (H-2) region. The onset of parental graft rejection begins 9-12 hr after transplantation and is completed by 24 hr. Maturation of hybrid resistance does not occur until the 22nd day of life. In adults, the resistance to parental marrow grafts can be temporarily abrogated or weakened by administration of cyclophosphamide or dead cultures of Corynebacterium parvum, acute supralethal exposures to radiation, or by split-dose irradiation with 6-37-day intervals. Parental marrow grafts elicit a transplantation reaction in irradiated F(1) mice which is indistinguishable from that elicited in irradiated allogeneic (H-2-incompatible) hosts. Because of this immunogenetic similarity, the following question is raised: are the same or different alloantigens responsible for rejection of parental and allogeneic marrow grafts? In the first case, Hh-1 alleles would be recessive determinants of tissue-specific transplantation antigens, whereas in the second case they would be the determinants of parental- and tissue-specific antigens subject to genetic suppression in Hh-1 heterozygotes. Although the available evidence is not conclusive in excluding one of the two possibilities, it favors the concept that allograft reactivity to hemopoietic cells is elicited by recessive tissue-specific antigens.