Peripheral nerve allograft: cellular and humoral immune responses of mice.

Despite numerous experimental and clinical studies, no method has been established for achieving successful peripheral nerve allografts. One reason is that few studies concerning the immune response of the host have been conducted with nerve allografts. We therefore investigated the immune response of fresh nerve allografts with respect to both cellular and humoral immunological reactions. Using immunologically established strains of inbred mice, we performed the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reaction and the cell-mediated lymphocytolysis reaction to test the cellular immune reaction and the complement-dependent cytotoxicity test to the humoral immune reaction. We observed that peripheral nerve tissues were strongly immunogenic; there was increased MLC reactivity to the allo-MHC antigen of the donor, specific cytotoxic T-cell activity, and production of specific antibody in the serum. For satisfactory nerve regeneration and transplantation, it is essential to suppress this immune response.