T-Lymphocyte Function Following Burns: Dependence of Response on Antigenic Disparity and Size of Injury 1

Abstract

Summary

Using the Ford popliteal node assay, we found that the ability of spleen cells from burned rats to induce a graft-versus-host reaction in F₁ hybrid recipients varied according to burn size and the histocompatibility difference between donor and recipient. It is postulated that a factor, possibly related to histocompatibility antigens, may be released from the burn site, capable of stimulating T-cells in small doses and of inducing antigenic overload paralysis in large doses.