Measurement of the immune response to an allograft: amino acid incorporation by peripheral white blood cells in man.

The uptake in vitro of 3H-thymidine and of 3H-uridine by white blood cells freshly taken from the recipients of renal transplants has been followed at regular intervals during the period of the patients' hospitalization. In addition, groups of subjects without renal failure undergoing operation and of patients on chronic dialysis have been studied. Of 33 patients undergoing rejection of their kidney, 28 showed a marked rise in the incorporation of thymidine over the period of rejection. However, a similar rise appears to accompany episodes of inter-current infection.