Specific cytotoxic T cells are found in the nonrejected kidneys of blood-transfused rats.

Abstract

Preoperative, donor-specific blood transfusion leads to indefinite survival of rat renal allografts in the strain combinations used. 51Cr-release assays have shown that the level of specific cytotoxic effector activity in the grafts of transfused (nonrejected kidney) animals is very high and may equal or exceed that seen in the grafts of untreated (rejected kidney) recipients. Such cytotoxicity demonstrates specificity for the alloantigens of the kidney, is T cell-mediated, and may persist within the transplant.