A Search for Markers of Rabbit Lymphoid Cells; Alloantigens Characterized by Antisera to Rabbit Thymus

Abstract

Two types of cytotoxic alloantisera were obtained by alloimmunization with rabbit thymus tissue. One of the two antisera reacted with a transplantation antigen designated W1, it is present on lymphoid cells and liver cells but was not detected on erythrocytes or brain cells. The antiserum killed approximately 70% peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of 37% of the rabbits tested. The second antiserum reacted with an antigen which was only found on lymphoid cells. Though it did not promote complement mediated kill of thymus cells, its activity towards PBL could be partially removed by absorption with thymus cells. Such absorption resulted in a decrease of the cytotoxic index (PBL) from ∼0.7 to ∼0.4. Absorption with bone marrow cells abolished cytotoxic activity completely.