Apparent failure of thymic epithelium transplants to alter the course of autoimmune disease in NZB/W mice.

Thymic epithelium from neonatal DBA/2 mice (H-2d) was placed under the kidney capsule of 10- to 12-wk-old female NZB/W mice (H-2d/z). Donor epithelium, equivalent to 1-2 lobes of neonatal thymus, was either irradiated (1300 rad.) or cultured for 7 days in order to minimise host-versus-graft reactions. Histological examination showed that the epithelium repopulated and remained in place until the end of the experiment, with no sign of rejection. Despite this, the treated animals lived no longer than the untreated or sham operated controls. Levels of anti-nuclear antibody and serum IgM (normally highly elevated in these animals) were not significantly different in any group.