Age-related changes, including synergy and suppression, in the mixed lymphocyte reaction in long-lived mice

Abstract

The mixed lymphocyte culture reaction represents the in vitro counterpart of the recognition phase of the graft-versus-host reaction, and of allograft rejection. The mixed lymphocyte culture reactivities of lymph node and spleen cells from all strains of mice studied, including long-lived strains, and of thymus cells from most strains show a striking decline with advanced age. Furthermore, studies of “synergy” between subpopulations of T cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture reaction suggest that the cells of the recirculating lymphoid pool (T₂ cells) in particular display a functional decline. Finally, spleen cells from old mice of appropriate strains inhibit or suppress the mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of lymph node or spleen cells from young mice.—Gerbase-DeLima, M., P. Meredith and R. L. Walford. Age-related changes, including synergy and suppression, in the mixed lymphocyte reaction in long-lived mice. Federation Proc. 34: 159–161, 1975. Keywords Spleen Cell Allograft Rejection Node Cell Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction Mixed Lymphocyte Culture These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.