FACILITATION OF SPECIFIC TOLERANCE INDUCTION IN ADULT MICE BY RS-61443

RS-61443 is an immunosuppressive agent that facilitates pancreatic islet allograft acceptance in two mouse strain combinations (BALB/c --> CBA and C57Bl/6J --> BALB/c). A remarkable feature of this agent is its ability to facilitate long-term graft acceptance after a short (30 days) period of treatment; following withdrawal of the agent 40-70% of islet allografts are maintained for an indefinite period. This long-term graft acceptance has been shown to result from specific tolerance induction in the recipient animal. The state of specific tolerance is an active rather than a passive form of tolerance, such as clonal deletion or anergy. Active tolerance induction is cyclosporine-sensitive, although cyclosporine enhances graft acceptance when used in combination therapy with RS-61443, this agent inhibits tolerance development under the influence of RS-61443.