IMMUNITY TO TISSUE SENSITISATION, HL-A AND NONHL- A, AS DETECTED BY THE ABCIL SYSTEM

Abstract

SUMMARY The phenomenon of antibody-mediated cell-dependent immune lympholysis (ABCIL) in which target cell lysis, as measured by ⁶¹Cr release, occurs in the presence of specific antibody and nonsensitised lymphocytes, has been applied to the study of tissue sensitisation in parous women against their husbands. ABCIL reaction was positive in 79% of 28 women studied compared with 46% positive reactions by lymphocytotoxicity test. Two control populations, 10 nulligravid married women and 13 normal unsensitised laboratory personnel, uniformly gave negative ABCIL reactions against their husbands and a fivecell panel, respectively. This method is highly sensitive. The specificity of this form of tissue sensitisntion has been examined by comparing reactivity against HL-A-typed husband with typed panel cells, and in an absorption study. ABCIL specificity extends beyond the restrictions of the present HL-A system. The detection system is deemed to be of value as a screening test for tissue sensitisation in the field of transplantation, although the biological significance of ABCIL remains to be determined.