B (MHC) antigen dependent modulation of GvH reactivity by neonatal thymectomy and alloimmunization.

Using Prague recombinant congenic lines of chickens, we found that neonatal thymectomy led either to a marked suppression (CC donors) or to a transient increase (CB donors) of GvH response against the B-F/L + B-G and B-F/L disparate congenic embryos. Similarly, preimmunization with the B (MHC) different blood led either to the suppression or increase of GvH reactivity of the CC and CB line donors depending on the antigenic difference (B-F/L + B-G, B-F/L, B-G) between the blood used for preimmunization, the immunized donor for GvH splenomegaly assay and the recipient embryos. In all cases, the suppression of GvH response of the CC line donors is accompanied with a marked increase in GvH reactivity against syngeneic and B-G 12 disparate embryos, suggesting an autoimmune state. Furthermore, the CC line chickens suffering from GvHD had lower GvH reactivity against the B (MHC) different embryos and a significantly raised reactivity against syngeneic embryos in comparison with controls. Chickens of the same group recovering from GvHD had an extremely high alloreactivity and only slightly or no increased GvH reactivity against syngeneic embryos.