Transplantation of bone marrow in outbred dogs without graft-versus-host disease using total lymphoid irradiation.

Abstract

The experimental findings reported here confirm and extend our earlier studies which show that preparation of adult mice and rats with TLI allows allogeneic marrow engraftment without GVHD. The immunological mechanisms responsible for the absence of GVHD is unclear. Unlike the presently used recipient treatment regimens, TLI allows for the use of unmatched marrow and obviates the use of post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy. Achievement of marrow engraftment without GVHD in large outbred animals indicates that this technique merits further investigation as a potential tool in marrow transplantation in humans.