EXPERIMENTAL RENAL HETEROTRANSPLANTATION III. PASSIVE TRANSFER OF TRANSPLANTATION IMMUNITY

Abstract

Accelerated rejection of renal xenografts in closely related species was obtained by passive transfer of cell-free serum. The serum was not organ-specific and its effect was independent of serum protein precipitins, hemolytic and hemagglutinating antibody. Twenty minutes after passive transfer of serum, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) were found in the glomeruli and arterioles of the transplant. Gamma-globulin was one of the serum factors responsible for the accelerated rejection and was found to be fixed to the walls of the arterioles and venules of the rejected xenograft. When the same protocol was used in an attempt to reject renal allografts in these species, accelerated rejection did not occur after passive transfer of hyperimmune serum, but fixed γ-globulin and accumulations of PMN's were observed in the 20-minute biopsies. These same findings were observed when the γ-globulin fraction of the immune serum was used. A cross-reaction of allogeneically-sensitized serum with the host's normal tistue occurred. It was postulated that cross-reaction with host tissues may have reduced the amount of antibody available to reject the allograft. When the experimental protocol was adjusted by using individual-specific serum obtained from animals sensitized with allogeneic tissues and by removing target organs capable of absorbing humoral antibody the effective dose of passively transferred antibody was apparently increased and accelerated allograft rejection was observed.