Frequency of chicken CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Genetic control and effect of Rous sarcoma virus infection.

In chickens from congenic inbred lines CB and CC that differ only in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), we observed significantly different percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and spleen. Positive cells were detected by indirect immunofluorescence test as analysed by flow cytometry. In both PBL and spleen cell suspensions, the number of CD4+ cells was significantly higher in CB than in CC chickens, whereas in CC birds there was a higher percentage of CD8+ cells than in CB. These statistically significant differences were under the MHC control. We found no statistically significant influence of regressions or progression of Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumours on the percentage of peripheral T cells and on the interleukin-2 production in vitro.

Prague inbred lines of chickens: a biological model for MHC research.

Evidence for further complexity of the genetic structure of chicken major histocompatibility complex (B) is reviewed, with a historical account showing mutual dependence of the development of an animal genetic model and the growth of scientific knowledge concerning the chicken MHC.

B (MHC) antigen dependent modulation of GvH reactivity by neonatal thymectomy and alloimmunization.

Using Prague recombinant congenic lines of chickens, we found that neonatal thymectomy led either to a marked suppression (CC donors) or to a transient increase (CB donors) of GvH response against the B-F/L + B-G and B-F/L disparate congenic embryos. Similarly, preimmunization with the B (MHC) different blood led either to the suppression or increase of GvH reactivity of the CC and CB line donors depending on the antigenic difference (B-F/L + B-G, B-F/L, B-G) between the blood used for preimmunization, the immunized donor for GvH splenomegaly assay and the recipient embryos. In all cases, the suppression of GvH response of the CC line donors is accompanied with a marked increase in GvH reactivity against syngeneic and B-G 12 disparate embryos, suggesting an autoimmune state. Furthermore, the CC line chickens suffering from GvHD had lower GvH reactivity against the B (MHC) different embryos and a significantly raised reactivity against syngeneic embryos in comparison with controls. Chickens of the same group recovering from GvHD had an extremely high alloreactivity and only slightly or no increased GvH reactivity against syngeneic embryos.

Role of the B-G-region antigen in the humoral immune response to the B-F-region antigen of chicken MHC.

In the chicken MHC there exist two regions, designated F and G, which were separated by crossing-over. The F region contains genes controlling all functions characteristic of the MHC. So far only one gene has been assigned to the G region and it is responsible for the presence of an RBC antigen. When cross-immunizing animals of the congenic lines CB and CC with erythrocytes, we have found that both F- and G-specific antibodies were produced. By using the recombinant haplotypes Br1 and Br2 we were able to dissociate the F from the G antigen and immunize with them separately. It was found that production of F antibodies required the copresence of the G antigen, whereas G antibodies were formed regardless of the presence of absence of the F-region antigen. It could be demonstrated that a prerequisite of the role of the G antigen with respect to the F antigen was the localization of both antigens on the same erythrocyte. Possible mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed.

The role of primary lymphoid organs of chickens in the elimination of 51Cr-labelled erythrocytes.

F1 chicken hybrids of the inbred lines CC and IC were given injections of erythrocytes from CB line chickens (differing at alloantigens of the major histocompatibility system B) or IA line chickens (differing at the A blood group system alloantigens). Injected erythrocytes were labelled with 51Cr and their gradual elimination from the recipient's circulation was checked. Surgical bursectomy was performed at the end of embryogenesis and thymectomy immediately after hatching. Bursectomy prolonged the survival of B- and A-incompatible erythrocytes. Thymectomy prolonged the survival of A-incompatible erythrocytes and had no effect on the elimination of erythrocytes possessing B antigens.

Tolerance to alloantigens of the A and B systems in chickens.

Tolerance to alloantigens of the A and B systems in chickens has been induced by multiple injections of RBC and tested by the elimination of 51Cr-labelled RBC of the same specificity. Three doses consisting of at least 108 RBC each in the B system and 107 RBC in the A system were needed to induce tolerance in newly hatched chicks. Futhermore, it was found that large doses, 109 RBC, in both systems induced tolerance in 100% of week-old and 50% of 14-day-old chickens. With doses of 109 RBC, tolerance to the B antigen disappeared at 8 days in the absence of RBC, whereas in the case of the A antigen it disappeared after more than 50 days, and with the 107 cell doses after 35 days. The elimination of A-incompatible RBC was proportional to the amount of anti-A antibodies present in the recipient's circulation, whereas a minimal amount of antibodies was capable of considerably accelerating the elimination of B-incompatible RBC.