Pathogenesis of a local graft versus host reaction: immunogenicity of circulating host leukocytes.

A local invasive-destructive reaction typical of that seen in allograft rejection occurs when Lewis rat spleen cells are inoculated under the capsule of Lewis kidney freshly grafted into F(1) hybrid hosts. Thus the donor lymphoid cells can be immunogenically stimulated by circulating host leukocytes and the interaction of these two cell populations results in nonspecific damage to kidney parenchyma. The results indicate that passenger leukocytes in organ allografts may be important immunogenic agents.