A NOVEL CELL TYPE CARRYING BOTH Th AND Tc/s MARKERS IN THE BLOOD OF CYCLOSPORINE-TREATED, ALLOGRAFTED RATS

Abstract
During treatment of heart-grafted rats with cyclosporine (CsA), an unusual large lymphocyte appears in the blood. These cells constitute up to 40% of the peripheral blood leukocyte population and carry both the T helper/DTH and T cytotoxic/suppressor differentiation antigens. They require both the allograft and CsA for their generation and are not recently thymus-derived. They gradually disappear after stopping CsA treatment, although the treated rats remain tolerant of the graft.