Protection from T helper cell-mediated graft-versus-host disease by the presence of an MHC class I alloantigen is associated with perturbation of MHC class II-restricted responses by class I-derived peptides.

Lethal graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) develops after transfer of CTL-depleted spleen and bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 (B6) mice to irradiated MHC class II disparate (B6xbm12)F1 recipients. Onset of lethal GVHD is significantly delayed in (bm1xbm12)F1 recipients of the same donor inoculum despite the additional MHC class I disparity (H-2Kbm1). To investigate the basis of this protective effect, hybridomas were generated from T cells activated in vivo during GVHD in both strain combinations.

Reactivity of hybridomas derived from T cells activated in vivo during graft-versus-host disease.

To examine the specificity of T helper cells activated during murine graft-vs-host disease (GVHD), T cell hybridomas from GVHD spleens and livers were generated and analyzed. CTL-depleted C57BL/6 (B6) donor cells were injected into irradiated (B6 x bm12)F1 or (bm1 x bm12)F1 recipient mice. Five or fourteen days later, cells from livers and spleens were fused directly with the TCR-deficient (alpha beta)- BW5147 thymoma line.

Measurement of NK activity in effector cells purified from canine peripheral lymphocytes.

Natural killer (NK) cells spontaneously lyse a variety of tumor cells in vitro, and are believed to play an important role in host resistance to tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. As part of our work in comparative oncology, we have designed and validated a canine NK cell assay. Of several lymphocyte isolation techniques evaluated, sedimentation of whole blood through a two-step Ficoll/Hypaque gradient (sp.