DEPLETION OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS FROM THE GRAFT REDUCES INTERFERON-?? LEVELS AND LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-?? RELEASE IN F1 HYBRID MICE WITH ACUTE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE1

Abstract

These results suggest that NK1.1 depletion of the graft confers protection against mortality by interfering with an immunoregulatory mechanism that results in the development of a Th1 response in GVH mice, and does not result in abortion of the graft. Because macrophage priming is prevented, recipients are also protected from the exaggerated sensitivity to endotoxin seen in mice with acute GVHD.