艾氏腹水癌克隆细胞株E2G8建立小鼠动物模型生物学特性研究

目的　比较不同品种 (系 )小鼠接种E2G8细胞株的某些生物学特性。方法　将E2G8细胞稀释成不同浓度 ,接种KM、DBA 2、6 15、C57BL 6及BALB c小鼠皮下或腹腔 ,观察小鼠出现可见肿块 腹水时间及小鼠生存时间 ;测量肿块直径 (cm)及瘤重 ;荷瘤小鼠腹腔注射环磷酰胺 (CTX) ,观察E2G8细胞肿瘤模型对CTX治疗的敏感性。结果　E2G8接种BALB c、6 15小鼠皮下毒性最大 ,DBA 2、C57BL 6小鼠次之 ,接种KM小鼠皮下毒性最小 ;接种DBA 2、C57BL 6、6 15小鼠腹腔毒性较大 ,致死性高 ,对BALB c和KM小鼠的致死性弱 ;E2G8瘤细胞在KM和 4种纯系小鼠皮下均能很好生长肿瘤 ,其中在KM小鼠皮下肿瘤生长最大 ,在BALB c小鼠皮下肿瘤最小 ;KM、C57BL 6、6 15、DBA 2、BALB c小鼠皮下接种瘤细胞第 12天瘤重分别为 (2 4 0± 1 30 ) ,(0 90± 0 4 8) ,(1 2 0± 0 38) ,(1 10± 0 2 9) ,(0 80± 0 30 )g ;E2G8细胞接种 5个不同品种 (系 )小鼠制备的肿瘤模型 ,用CTX治疗 ,抑瘤率由高到低依次为6 6 7% (6 15 ) ,5 5 0 % (BALB c) ,5 3 3% (C57BL 6 ) ,5 0 % (KM) ,36 4 (DBA 2 ) ,其中 6 15小鼠建立的模型对CTX的治疗最敏感。结论　E2G8细胞株接种 5个不同品种 (系 )小鼠 ,所测生物学特性不完全相同 ,但是从腹腔 皮下接种、CTX     

免疫外科法分离克隆BALB/c小鼠胚胎干细胞

目的　使用免疫外科法分离克隆BALB c小鼠胚胎干细胞 (embryonicstemcells,ES细胞 ) ,为进一步建立BALB c小鼠ES细胞系打下基础。方法　用免疫外科法从 4 5枚BALB c小鼠囊胚中分离得到 2 0枚去除滋养层细胞的ICM ,接种在MEF饲养层上 ,使用DMEM(高糖 ) 15 ?S 0 1mmol Lβ 巯基乙醇 0 0 1mmol L非必需氨基酸 10 0 0IU mlLIF 10 0IU mL青霉素 10 0IU ml链霉素培养液 ,17枚形成典型的ICM集落 (85 0 % ) ,有一枚胚胎传至第 10代。用于全胚培养的BALB c小鼠胚胎共 10 2枚 ,使用与免疫外科相同的培养方法 ,6 6枚形成典型的ICM集落 (6 4 7% ) ,其中一枚胚胎传至第 8代。结果　免疫外科法较全胚培养法有利于小鼠ES细胞的分离与克隆 ;添加LIF(10 0 0IU ml)有利于小鼠ES细胞的分离与传代 (P <0 0 5 ) ;0 0 5 %胰酶 0 0 0 8?TA是较好的ES细胞消化液 ,对细胞综合损伤力小 ,且传代后ES细胞集落形成能力也较高 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　分离得到的ES细胞经形态学观察 ,AKP染色 ,体外分化实验 ,核型分析等证明其具有胚胎干细胞的诸多特性。     

新生BALB/c小鼠肠道潘氏细胞的分布规律

观察BALB/c小鼠小肠潘氏细胞的分布规律。应用石蜡切片、H&E染色技术和LeicaQwin显微图像处理系统,分别对2 d、4 d、6 d、8 d、10 d BALB/c小鼠小肠内潘氏细胞的形态发育、分布规律进行观察和分析。结果发现,4日龄前的BALB/c小鼠各段小肠中肠腺发育尚不完整,未见有潘氏细胞。6日龄后,潘氏细胞开始出现,数量随日龄增加呈递增趋势增长,各日龄间差异显著(P<0.05)。BALB/c小鼠肠道潘氏细胞存在于小肠,十二指肠和空肠较少,回肠较多,各组(不同日龄/肠段)之间差异显著(P<0.05)。     

大蒜素对致死型约氏疟原虫鼠疟模型CD4+活化/凋亡T细胞的影响

探讨大蒜素对致死型约氏疟原虫(Plasmodium yoelii 17XL,P.y 17XL)感染BALB/c小鼠T细胞免疫应答的影响。P.y 17XL感染后第0~2天每日口服给予不同浓度大蒜素(3 mg/kg或9 mg/kg)处理;动态监测各组小鼠原虫血症水平和生存期;感染后第0天、第3天和第5天无菌提取小鼠脾细胞,FACS检测小鼠活化T细胞(CD4~+CD69~+)、凋亡CD4~+T细胞(7AAD~-Annexin V~+)数量变化;ELISA检测脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和TNF-α的水平。结果显示:与NC组相比,大蒜素处理组能降低感染小鼠的原虫血症水平,延长生存期。大蒜素处理能提高感染小鼠活化T细胞的数量,降低凋亡T细胞数量,并能提高脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和TNF-α的水平。大蒜素能在感染早期促使宿主建立有效的Th1免疫应答,从而抑制红内期P.y 17XL疟原虫感染进程。     

快速显示血细胞及骨髓细胞DNA、RNA的方法

实验对传统的甲绿 派若宁法做了一定的改进 ,使染色时间缩短 ,步骤简化 ,效果良好。并对骨髓和脾造血细胞内ＤＮＡ、ＲＮＡ的定性和定量显示进行了一定的探讨。1.材料和方法1 1　材料 :派若宁Ｙ染液的配制 6%派若宁Ｙ(ＡＭＲＥＳＣＯ分装 ) 1ｍｌ,0 2Ｍ醋酸缓冲液(ｐＨ5 0 ) 8ｍｌ,蒸馏水 8ｍｌ ,优质甘油 1ｍｌ。此过程在磁力搅拌器上进行。 2 %甲绿用 0 1ＭＰＢＳｐＨ7 2溶液配制 ,经三氯甲烷洗脱去影响染色效果的甲紫成分 ,制得较纯的甲绿溶液。1 2　染色方法 :取小鼠股骨 (用ＲＰＭＩ 1640培养液将骨髓冲出 )和脾细胞 ,制成细胞悬液…     

BALB/c小鼠感染不同疟原虫CD4＋ Th应答和凋亡特点的比较研究

探讨不同疟原虫感染BALB/c小鼠的免疫应答特点。BALB/c小鼠经腹腔注射致死型约氏疟原虫（P.y17XL）和夏氏疟原虫（P.cAS）感染的红细胞,计数红细胞感染率;ELISA动态检测感染小鼠脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和IL-4水平;流式细胞术检测脾中CD4＋T细胞凋亡数量。约氏疟原虫（P.y17XL）感染早期,小鼠原虫血症持续上升;IFN-γ和IL-4分泌水平仅在感染后第3天出现一过性有意义的升高,而且峰值较低;脾中CD4＋T细胞大量凋亡,小鼠全部死亡;而夏氏疟原虫（P.cAS）感染小鼠,原虫血症上升缓慢;IFN-γ分泌水平在感染后第5天达峰值;IL-4分泌水平在感染后第10天达峰值,且峰值较高维持时间较长;脾中CD4＋T细胞凋亡细胞于感染后8 d出现有意义升高,小鼠全部存活。抗疟保护性免疫有赖于Th1和Th2型免疫应答的有效建立和协调过渡,感染期间CD4＋T细胞凋亡的时相和数量可能是影响免疫应答的强度或引起宿主免疫抑制的原因,从而影响宿主疟原虫感染的结局。     

香菇多糖对急性弓形虫感染小鼠Th应答调节作用的实验研究

目的 探讨香菇多糖(Lentinan,Lent)对急性弓形虫感染小鼠BALB/c Th1/Th2免疫应答调节效应的影响.方法 对RH强毒株感染的BALB/c小鼠进行不同时间点的香菇多糖预处理,动态观察用药后各组感染小鼠的生存率;在感染后第0、3、5、8和10天提取小鼠的脾细胞,ELISA法检测脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和IL-10的分泌水平.结果 感染前6 d 1 mg/kg LNT用药组与药物未处理组相比显著提高了生存率;显著增强了Th1免疫应答中关键细胞因子IFN-γ和Th2免疫应答中关键细胞因子IL-10的分泌水平.结论 对急性弓形虫感染的BALB/c小鼠采用香菇多糖预处理之后能有效激发Th1/Th2型免疫应答的有效建立,对于抵抗弓形虫感染具有重要意义.     

口服型HCV融合抗原DNA疫苗在小鼠诱导免疫应答

将编码一个外源信号肽、一个通用型辅助性T淋巴细胞抗原表位和HCV核心 包膜蛋白E2融合抗原基因的真核表达质粒pST CE2t(DNA疫苗 )转化到减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌SL72 0 7.将该重组菌口服接种BALB c小鼠 3次 .小鼠的抗HCV核心和E2抗体阳转率分别达 6 0 %和 70 % .体外以重组HCV核心或E2抗原刺激小鼠脾细胞 ,均使之发生明显的增殖反应 ,且小鼠脾细胞能有效杀伤表达HCV核心抗原的同系骨髓瘤细胞SP2 0 .这为研制高效免疫、成本低廉、接种方便的HCV疫苗提供了一个新的可行途径     

夏氏疟原虫感染过程中调节性B细胞的表达变化

调节性B细胞(regulatory B cells,Bregs)是近年来发现的通过分泌IL-10发挥免疫调节作用的B细胞,其在疟疾免疫应答中的作用尚不清楚。利用血液阶段夏氏疟原虫(Plasmodium chabaudi AS,P.c AS)感染的BALB/c小鼠,观察了感染过程中Bregs数量变化及其表面分子表达情况。结果显示,BALB/c小鼠感染P.c AS后红细胞感染率逐渐升高,于感染后第9天达到30%,多数小鼠死亡。脾组织细胞因子IL-10 mRNA水平在感染后显著升高,感染后第5天达到高峰,感染后第8天仍为正常小鼠的10倍左右。CD4+细胞中IL-10+细胞百分比和绝对数量在感染后第5天达到峰值,于感染后第8天回落至正常水平;而CD19+细胞中IL-10+细胞(Bregs)百分比在感染后持续上升,在感染后第8天达到CD19+细胞的5%左右;感染后第5天,脾中CD4+IL-10+细胞绝对数量高于CD19+IL-10+细胞,至感染后第8天,CD19+IL-10+细胞绝对数量显著高于CD4+IL-10+细胞(P﹤0.01),约90%Bregs为CD5-细胞。结果提示,P.c AS感染过程中Bregs显著活化,是感染1周后IL-10的主要产生细胞。     

香菇多糖对急性弓形虫感染过程中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+调节性T细胞的调节作用研究

目的 探讨香菇多糖(Lentinan,Lent)对急性弓形虫感染BALB/c小鼠CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+调节性T细胞(Tregs)数量和功能的调节作用.方法 对RH强毒株感染的BALB/c小鼠进行不同时间点的Lent预处理,动态观察用药后各组感染小鼠的生存率;在感染后第0、3、5、8和10天提取小鼠的脾细胞,FACS检测Tregs细胞数量的动态变化,ELISA法检测脾细胞培养上清中IL-10的分泌水平.结果 感染前6 d 1 mg/kg Lent用药组与药物未处理组相比显著提高了弓形虫感染小鼠的生存率;具有免疫抑制功能的Tregs数量于感染后8d达峰值,同时免疫应答中关键细胞因子IL-10的分泌水平也于感染后8d和10d显著增加.结论 对急性弓形虫感染的BALB/c小鼠采用Lent预处理之后能有效的调节Tregs的数量和功能,从而调控Th1/Th2之间的动态平衡达到治疗弓形虫的作用,为弓形虫病的临床治疗提供的新的理论依据.     

Large quantity of ribosomal RNA exists extracellularly in mouse spleen

When BALB/c mouse spleens were gently homogenized in saline, the resultant supernatant (without cells and tissue debris) contained significant amount of 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA, reaching up to 70% of the total spleen RNA. Haemoglobin assays indicated that less than 15% of the spleen cells were lysed during the homogenization process, indicating that the majority of the spleen `supernatant RNA' was from the extracellular space of the organ rather than released by the splenocytes as a consequence of grinding. Quantitative RNA analysis showed that the ratio of spleen supernatant RNA/total RNA of BALB/c mice was inversely correlated with age (from approximately 70% at 3 weeks to 45% at 6 months), but that of BXSB mice (an animal model for systemic lupus erythematosus) remained at about 70% irrespective of age. Methyl Green–Pyronin Y staining of paraffin sections of mouse spleen revealed that extracellular RNA was distributed mainly in the sinuses of the organ. Culture supernatants of apoptotic splenocytes contained significant amounts of RNA, suggesting that the extracellular RNA in the spleen might have come from apoptotic lymphocytes. This is supported by the fact that `thymus supernatant' also contained significant amount of RNA. A possible correlation between spleen extracellular RNA and autoimmune diseases is discussed.     

Influence of age on the ability of thymic adherent cells to produce factors in vitro which modulate immune responses of thymocytes

Thymic adherent cells from BALB/c mice ranging in age from 1 day to 20 months were cultured in vitro for 1 month. The supernatants, collected at weekly intervals, were assessed for their ability to augment the antigen/mitogen responses of thymocytes from 2- or 4-week-old BALB/c mice and spleen cells from 3-month-old nude BALB/c mice. The results indicate that (a) the ability of thymic adherent cells to produce an augmenting factor(s) declines sharply between 2.5 and 5 months of age; (b) thymic adherent cells of 1-day-old mice synthesize an inhibitory factor(s) in addition to the augmenting factor, while those of young adult mice synthesize only the augmenting factor, and those of 20-month-old mice synthesize primarily the inhibitory factor; (c) supernatants containing the augmenting factor can be neutralized by mixing them with supernatants containing the inhibitory factor; (d) thymocytes which are responsive to the augmenting factor are immature as judged by their sensitivity to dexamethasone and by their ability to bind macrophages; and (e) spleen cells of normal and nude mice are not responsive to either the augmenting or the inhibitory factor of the supernatant.     

Host genetic background affects regulatory T-cell activity that influences the magnitude of cellular immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Using two mouse strains with different abilities to generate interferon (IFN)-γ production after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, we tested the hypothesis that the frequency and activity of regulatory T (Treg) cells are influenced by genetic background. Our results demonstrated that the suppressive activity of spleen Treg cells from infected or uninfected BALB/c mice was enhanced, inhibiting IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 production. Infected C57BL/6 mice exhibited a decrease in the frequency of lung Treg cells and an increased ratio CD4(+):CD4(+)Foxp3(+) cells compared with infected BALB/c mice and uninfected C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, infected C57BL/6 mice also had a decrease in the immunosuppressive capacity of spleen Treg cells, higher lung IFN-γ and IL-17 production, and restricted the infection better than BALB/c mice. Adoptive transfer of BALB/c Treg cells into BALB/c mice induced an increase in bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. Furthermore, BALB/c mice treated with anti-CD25 antibody exhibited lung CFU counts significantly lower than mice treated with irrelevant antibody. Our results show that in BALB/c mice, the Treg cells have a stronger influence than that in C57BL/6 mice. These data suggest that BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice may use some different mechanisms to control M. tuberculosis infection. Therefore, the role of Treg cells should be explored during the development of immune modulators, both from the perspective of the pathogen and the host.     

Immunological basis for susceptibility and resistance to pulmonary blastomycosis in mouse strains

The immunological basis for a >10-fold resistance of outbred CD-1 mice compared to inbred BALB/c mice to pulmonary blastomycosis was investigated. Bronchoalveolar macrophages (BAM) from CD-1 mice killed yeast cells of Blastomyces dermatitidis (Bd) by 25% and this increased to 59% when activated by IFN-gamma. In contrast, BAM from BALB/c mice lacked significant killing (5%) of Bd but could be activated by IFN-gamma for enhanced killing (19%). Peritoneal macrophages (PM) from CD-1 mice had significant fungicidal activity for Bd (43%) and this increased to 63% with IFN-gamma treatment. By contrast, PM from BALB/c mice did not significantly kill Bd (14%) but were activated by IFN-gamma for significant killing (24%). Fungicidal activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from CD-1 (87%) was greater than that of BALB/c (75%) (P<0.05). Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) production by BAM from BALB/c was significantly less than that from CD-1 in response to co-culture with Bd. IFN-gamma production by CD-1 spleen cells in response to concanavalin A (Con A, 1microg/ml) was 8-fold greater than that by BALB/c spleen cells. In contrast, BAM and PM from BALB/c mice in co-culture with Bd secreted several-fold more TNFalpha than BAM or PM from CD-1 mice. IL-2 production by BALB/c spleen cells in response to Con A was 3- to 4-fold greater than that by CD-1 spleen cells. Depressed IL-2 production by Con A stimulated CD-1 spleen cells correlated with depressed proliferative responses. Resistance of CD-1 mice to pulmonary blastomycosis correlates with enhanced fungicidal activity of BAM, PM, PMN, and IFN-gamma production by Con A stimulated spleen cells, compared to BALB/c mice. Consistent with the in vitro enhancement of effector cell function by IFN-gamma, in vivo therapy with IFN-gamma significantly (P<0.0001) improved survival of BALB/c mice with pulmonary blastomycosis.     

Production of BSF-1 during an in vivo, T-dependent immune response

BSF-1, a cytokine produced by some T lymphocyte tumors, has been shown to act with anti-Ig antibodies to stimulate B lymphocyte proliferation, to independently induce resting B lymphocytes to increase their expression of surface Ia antigen, and to induce some activated B lymphocytes to differentiate into IgG1- or IgE-secreting cells. To determine whether BSF-1 might be secreted by normal lymphoid cells in the course of a physiologic immune response, BALB/c mice were injected with an affinity-purified goat antibody to mouse IgD (GaM delta), which induces the generation of a large, polyclonal T-dependent IgG1 response; 4-hr culture supernatants of spleen cells from these mice were prepared, and these supernatants were assayed for BSF-1 activity by analyzing their ability to induce BALB/c nu/nu spleen cells to increase their expression of cell surface Ia in vitro. Culture supernatants of unfractionated spleen cells removed from mice 4 to 8 days after GaM delta antibody injection induced substantial increases in B lymphocyte surface Ia expression; these increases were blocked by a monoclonal anti-BSF-1 antibody. Culture supernatants of spleen cells from untreated BALB/c mice or from untreated or GaM delta antibody-treated BALB/c nu/nu mice induced small to moderate increases in B cell surface Ia expression, and GaM delta antibody itself induced large increases in B cell surface Ia expression; however, these increases were not significantly blocked by a monoclonal anti-BSF-1 antibody. A culture supernatant of T cell-enriched spleen cells from untreated mice induced small increases in B cell surface Ia expression that were inhibited by anti-BSF-1 antibody, as was the larger increase in B cell Ia expression induced by a culture supernatant of T cell-enriched spleen cells from mice sacrificed 3 days after GaM delta injection. On the other hand, T cell-depleted spleen cells from BALB/c mice injected with GaM delta antibody 7 days before sacrifice failed to generate culture supernatants with BSF-1 activity. Supernatants prepared from spleen cells taken from untreated mice or mice treated with GaM delta antibody 1 to 3 days before sacrifice did not block the ability of purified BSF-1 to induce an increase in B cell surface Ia expression, and thus did not contain inhibitors of BSF-1 activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effects of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on T and B lymphocytes from BXSB mice

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) can differentiate into a number of different cell/tissue types, and also possess immunoregulatory functions. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the exact immunoregulatory effects of allogeneic bMSCs on T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation, activation, and function maturation of BXSB mice, which has been considered as a experimental model for human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We determined that bMSCs from BALB/c mice had inhibitory effects on BXSB mice T-lymphocyte proliferation, but no inhibitory effect on their activation. In addition, they had a significant inhibitory and stimulatory effect on IL-4- and IFN-gamma-producing T cells, respectively. Also, bMSCs had inhibitory effects on the proliferation, activation, and IgG secretion of B lymphocytes. In addition, BALB/c bMSCs had an enhancing effect on CD40 expression and inhibitory effects on CD40 ligand (CD40L) ectopic hyperexpression on B cells from BXSB mice.     

Specific partial depletion of graft-vs-host activity by incubation and centrifugation of mouse spleen cells on allogeneic spleen cell monolayers.

Spleen cells (from BALB/c mice immunized with the C57BL/6 lymphoma EL4, or from non-immune BALB/c) were incubated on monolayers of [C57BL/6 times BALB/cF1 (B6CF1) spleen cells on polylysine-coated polystyrene Petri plate, for 1/2 hr or for 1 hr at 37 degrees C followed by centrifugation of the monolayers for 5 min at 70 times G to 110 times G at 34 to 37 degrees C. Control monolayers were BALB/c spleen cells. As measured by the Simonsen spleen weight assay in neonatal mice, graft-vs-host (GVH) activity was partially depleted in cell populations nonadherent to B6CF1 monolayers. Residual GVH activity of these nonadherent cells was about half that of cells incubated on the control syngeneic monolayers (the mean of eight experiments was 49% +/- 11% S.D.). Two or three consecutive cycles of incubation and centrifugation did not significantly diminish the residual GVH activity, suggesting that spleen cells with GVH activity are heterogeneous with respect to binding to allogeneic target cells under the above conditions. Cell populations nonadherent to third-part [A times AL]F1 monolayers retained full activity, and cell populations partially depleted of GVH activity in B6CF1 neonates had full activity in third-party [BALB/c times AL]F1 neonates.     

Sensitivity difference to the suppressive effect of prostaglandin E2 among mouse strains: a possible mechanism to polarize Th2 type response in BALB/c mice

PGE2 has been shown to play a prominent role in regulating Th1 and Th2 type responses. We studied the role of PGE2 in IFN-gamma production by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I-stimulated spleen cells from several mouse strains such as BALB/c, C3H/HeN, and C57BL/6. When spleen cells were pretreated with indomethacin (cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitor) or NS-398 (COX-2-specific inhibitor), S. aureus Cowan I -induced IFN-gamma production was increased more markedly in spleen cells from BALB/c mice than from C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mouse. However, PGE2 production was not significantly different among spleen cells from three mouse strains. When various concentrations of PGE2 were exogeneously added to spleen cells, PGE2 showed a stronger suppressive effect on IFN-gamma production in spleen cells from BALB/c mice than from other strains of mice. This suppressive effect of PGE2 in BALB/c mice mainly depended on IL-12p70 production by APCs. More PGE2 binding sites were found in BALB/c spleen cells than in C3H/HeN spleen cells, indicating that the sensitivity difference to the suppressive effect of PGE2 was due to the difference of the number of PGE2 receptors. The administration of NS-398 into BALB/c mice enhanced Ag-specific IFN-gamma production, but not IL-4 production. This effect is the same as IL-12 administration in vivo. From these results, we propose that the modulation of PGE2 is important for Th1 activation via IFN-gamma and IL-12p70 production in vitro and in vivo and that PGE2 is one of the pivotal factors in the Th2-dominant immune response in BALB/c mice.     

The effect of thymectomy on lupus-prone mice

The effect of neonatal thymectomy on the induction and/or modification of murine SLE disease was examined in several representative groups of mice with early-life SLE (MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr females, BXSB males, (NZB X W)F1 females, (NZW X BXSB)F1 males and females), late-life SLE (MRL/Mp-+/+ and BXSB females), and normal strains (BALB/c and C57BL/6 females). Our results indicated that thymectomy prevented disease only in the MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr SLE mice, and that this effect diminished as thymectomy was delayed beyond 3 wk post-natally. In the other SLE mice studied, neonatal thymectomy did not modify disease symptoms to any significant degree. Moreover, depletion of mature T cells from donor BXSB male bone marrow did not affect the expression of early-life SLE in thymectomized BXSB female recipients. Neonatal thymectomy did not induce SLE in normal mice. Of note, neonatal thymectomy did not completely deplete the Thy-1.2+ cell population, i.e., 10 to 15% remained in the spleens of the thymectomized mice. This incomplete T cell depletion, together with the previously demonstrated dependence on and hyperresponsiveness of BXSB and (NZB X W)F1 B cells to T helper cell-derived accessory signals, cast doubts on earlier conclusions that B cells from some SLE mice can autonomously proliferate and differentiate to autoantibody-secreting cells. It seems more appropriate to conclude that B cells from the various SLE mice vary in their degree of response to, and production of, T cell-derived helper signals, and thus in their expression of B cell hyperactivity and disease.     

Suppression and elimination of BCL1 leukemia by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Mice carrying the B cell leukemia (BCL1)+ were successfully treated by total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), cyclophosphamide, and allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation. Long-term survivors were examined for residual BCL1 cells and for the ability to transfer adoptively graft vs. leukemia (GVL) activity. Residual BCL1 cells could not be detected in the allogeneic BM chimeras (greater than 14 to 16 months) with the use of indirect immunofluorescent staining with anti-idiotype antibody. However, residual tumor cells were present in 50% of the "cured" chimeric mice since adoptive transfer of 10(6) spleen cells from 50% of the treated chimeric mice caused leukemia in BALB/c recipients. In order to determine whether leukemia had been prevented in the "cured" chimeras by a persistent cell-mediated mechanism, BALB/c mice were injected with 10(6) spleen cells from the "cured" BM chimeras together with a dose of 10(2) or 5 x 10(5) BCL1 cells. Onset of leukemia was delayed or completely abolished in a significant proportion of recipients receiving the cell mixtures, suggesting the presence of anti-tumor immunity in the cured mice. The data suggest that a persistent active immune mechanism may be responsible, in part, for the significant antileukemic effects observed in mice tolerant to donor alloantigens.