The role of TDTH and Tc populations in organ graft rejection. I. Functional analysis of graft-infiltrating T cells.

To analyze the role of T cell subpopulations in the rejection of organ allografts, we developed a new model for obtaining large numbers of graft infiltrating cells (GICs). We isolated W3/25+ Th/DTH and OX8+ Ts/c from vascularized, irradiated rat spleen allografts. W3/25+ GICs obtained from spleen allografts transplanted to normal recipients were highly effective in eliciting cardiac allograft rejection when transferred to sublethally irradiated recipients, however, the OX8+ subset was incapable of eliciting rejection. On the other hand, when OX8+ GICs were obtained from spleen allografts transplanted to previously immunized recipients, they were as efficient as the W3/25+ Th/DTH subset in eliciting cardiac allograft destruction. These results indicate that the W3/25+, OX8- T cell is required for the rejection of primary organ allografts, but that the rejection of a secondary allograft by an immune recipient may be mediated, independently, by both W3/25+ and OX8+ cells.