DNA synthesis in mixed cultures of rat leukocytes and allogeneic dissociated skin cells.

A proliferative response (increased DNA synthesis measured by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation; maximum at the fifth day) occurs in mixed cultures of rat peripheral leukocytes and allogeneic dissociated skin cells. This response is allospecific and is greater than that occurring in mixed cultures of corresponding allogeneic leukocytes. This mitogenic property of dissociated skin cells is not shared with other nonlymphoid cell types, for example kidney cells. Cells from four isogenic rat strains have been studied; proliferative responses occurred in the mixed cell cultures only when cell donors differed by alleles at the Ag-B histocompatibility locus.