Primary anti-viral cytotoxic T-cell responses in semiallogeneic chimeras are not absolutely restricted to host H-2 type.

Chimeras produced by reconstitution of 950 rads irradiated type A or type B host mice with (AXB)F1 fetal liver stem cells were examined in primary (in vivo) and secondary (in vitro) Tc-cell responses to ectromelia virus infection. Of 33 individual chimeras which gave primary responses, 26 produced significant specific lysis of infected targets of both A and B type, though host type targets were invariably lysed more efficiently (host bias). The other 7 chimeras gave lysis of infected host type targets only (absolute restriction). 12 individual chimeras were used in secondary responses. Nine showed host bias, and three showed absolute restriction. Whether an individual chimera showed host bias or absolute restriction seemed to be unrelated to whether the response was primary or secondary, to the time after reconstitution (ranging from 4 to 22 wk), to strain of mouse, or to the batch of fetal liver stem cells used.