CROSS-SPECIES TRANSPLANTATION - NK CELL NUMBER AND FUNCTION ARE NORMAL IN FULLY XENOGENEIC CHIMERAS (RAT-]MOUSE) 22ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN PEDIATRIC SURGICAL ASSOC French, S. N., Wren, S. M., HRONAKES, M. L., Ildstad, S. T. W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC. 1992: 307–11

Abstract

When untreated F344 rat bone marrow is transplanted into B10 mouse recipients conditioned with total body irradiation, stable fully xenogeneic chimerism (rat----mouse) results. Chimeras are specifically tolerant to the donor strain of rat, survival is excellent (greater than 80% at 8 months), and all stem-cell-derived lineages are produced by the rat stem cell. We have previously demonstrated normal function of T-lymphocytes in these chimeras, but have not examined the immune function of natural killer (NK) cells present. Because NK cells play a critical role in immune surveillance, absence of function could result in a serious immunodeficiency state. We present data here to suggest that rat NK cells that have developed in a mouse stromal environment are normal in function as well as number. In all fully xenogeneic chimeras tested from 8 weeks to 8 months following bone marrow transplantation, NK cells were present at a normal level (10% to 16%). NK cells function in these chimeras, as tested by spontaneous lysis of YAC tumor cell targets, was normal or superior to normal F344 rat and B10 mouse NK cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1992HJ05700007

View details for PubMedID 1501002