Cytological estimation of proliferating donor cells during graft-versus-host disease in F1 hybrid mice injected with parental spleen cells

Abstract

An investigation into the fate of CBA spleen cells transplanted into (CBA×C57BL) F₁ adult host mice has been performed by tracing the donor cells by means of a chromosomal marker. The results have been compared with the degree of graft-versus-host reaction which resulted, and the following conclusions have been reached.

(1) An early but short-lived burst of donor-cell activity occurs in the spleen. At 48 hours these cells form the majority of dividing cells.

(2) Later proliferation is almost entirely host in origin.

(3) Donor cells, although diminished in number, persist to the 60th day, beyond which the investigation was not carried.

(4) In some animals the persistence of donor cells continued to be associated with signs of graft-versus-host disease while in other animals these signs subsided.

(5) Injected spleen cells rarely settle and divide in the marrow.