Genetic resistance in the graft-versus-host reaction.

Genetic resistance (GR) of (B10 x A/Ph)F1 hybrid mice to parental B10 grafts limits the 'performance' of both hemopoietic and lymphoid cells. In comparison with A/Ph spleen cells, B10 cells induce only a slight regional graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction and a delayed systemic GVH reaction. The GR to lymphoid cells is not sensitive to total body irradiation, to cyclophosphamide, or to various xenogeneic sera (e.g. antilymphocyte, antimacrophage, antithymocyte). A high dose of antimarrow serum was partially effective, but the most suppressive effect was obtained by treatment with silica. Besides some similar features, GR action on hemopoietic and lymphoid cells revealed several differences and the nature of these is discussed.