T-cell migration into allografts

The ability of T and B lymphocytes to migrate into skin allografts undergoing rejection was studied in mice. Spleen cells from CBA/J mice sensitized to transplantation antigens of A/J or C57BL/6 mice were separated on immunabsorbent columns into purified populations of T and B cells, labeled in vitro with 3H-uridine and injected intravenously into CBA/J mice with 7-day old skin iso and allografts (A/J or C57BL/6). The mice were sacrificed 24 h later and studied by autoradiography. After transfer of either unfractionated spleen cells or T cells, large numbers of labeled cells were found in the cellular infiltrate of allografts, whereas extremely few were seen in isografts. In contrast, after transfer of B cells, almost no labeled cells were detected either in the allografts or the isografts, although they, like T cells, homed normally to lymphoid tissue.