Biopterin synthesis in mouse spleen during bone marrow transplantation correlates with unimpaired hemopoietic engraftment.

Normal engraftment of bone marrow transplants depends on histocompatibility between donor and recipient. In this case reconstitution of hemopoiesis and lymphopoiesis in the mouse spleen is correlated with transient biopterin synthesis in these cells. Allogeneic bone marrow progeny cells undergo donor cell proliferation in the spleen prior to the incidence of graft-versus-host reaction. These cells are not committed to biopterin synthesis. Thy-1 monoclonal antibody fully repairs engraftment of allogeneic transplants together with biopterin synthesis.