Splenic foci of cytotoxic lymphocytes in a graft-versus-host reaction

Abstract

It has been established that cytotoxic lymphocytes are generated in discrete foci in the spleens of mice undergoing a graft-versus-host reaction. The foci segregated randomly in such spleens. 2.8×10 4 lymph node cells, 2.3×10 5 spleen cells and 2.7 ×10 6 thymus cells from CBA mice generated a mean of one focus in lethally irradiated (CBA×DBA)F 1 recipient mice. Cytotoxic foci were detected when cytotoxicity was measured by two different cytotoxicity assays, the release of [ 51 Cr]-sodium chromate from [ 51 Cr]-labelled target cells and colony inhibition. The seeding efficiency of cytotoxic focus-forming cells has been estimated at 19%. © 1978 S. Karger AG, Basel.