The Effect of Presensitization of Parental Donors on Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Irradiated F 1 Hybrid Mice 1

Abstract

Summary

The GVH disease in 1C3F₁ hybrid mice following 500 R X-irradiation and injection of normal parent strain spleen cells is mild in terms of mortality, signs, and tissue pathology. Presensitization of the donor with spleen cells of the reciprocal parent strain, however, results in a highly lethal GVH disease. The timing of presensitization before donor use is an important factor in the severity of the resulting GVH disease. Presensitization of the donor seems to require more than 3 days, is near maximum effectiveness at 7 days, persists at this level for many months, and gradually falls off through the life of the donor. After 24 months, sensitized donors still are more effective in producing GVH disease than controls of comparable age.