Mechanism for cotolerance in nonlethally conditioned mixed chimeras: Negative selection of the V-beta T-cell receptor repertoire by both host and donor bone marrow-derived cells

Bone marrow (BM) chimeras prepared by complete recipient ablation (A-->B) exhibit donor-specific tolerance, yet survival is often limited by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Negative selection of potentially donor-reactive T cells, as assessed by relative T-cell receptor (TCR)-V-beta expression, is dependent on donor BM-derived deleting ligands. Mixed chimerism and tolerance for both donor and host antigens can be achieved using partial recipient myeloablation with 500 cGy total-body irradiation (TBI) before transplantation followed by cyclophosphamide (CyP) on day +2. To examine the influence of residual host elements on negative selection, the peripheral TCR-V-beta repertoire was analyzed in partially ablated C57BL/10SnJ (B10) recipients reconstituted with BM from major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-disparate B10.BR/SgSnJ or MHC, Hh-1 and Mls-disparate BALB/cByJ donors, which delete V(beta)5(+) and 11(+) or V(beta)3(+), 5(+), and 11(+) TCR subsets, respectively. As in myeloblated recipients, donor-reactive subfamilies were deleted in B10.BR-->B10 and BALB/c-->B10 chimeras, suggesting that donor I-E and minor lymphocyte-stimulating (Mls) antigens contribute to the deleting ligands in the nonmyeloablated host. In striking contrast to completely ablated B10-->B10.BR chimeras, partially ablated recipients showed intramedullary I-E expression in the thymus and deleted host-reactive V(beta)5(+) and V(beta)11(+) subfamilies. These data demonstrate that efficient clonal deletion occurs after partial myeloablation and that both donor and host ligands contribute to TCR repertoire selection. (C) 1996 by The American Society of Hematology.