TRANSFER OF A FUNCTIONING HUMORAL IMMUNE SYSTEM IN TRANSPLANTATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTE-DEPLETED BONE MARROW

To test the effect of transplantation of T-cell-depleted bone marow on recipient immune function the results of pre-transplantation immunisation with tetanus toxoid and hepatitis-B vaccine were studied in 38 donor-recipient pairs. Immunisation of the donor alone resulted in transfer of an antibody response to the recipient; immunisation of both donor and recipient resulted in potentiation of the antibody response in both magnitude and duration. These findings indicate that donor T-cell-depleted marrow can transfer humoral immunity to the recipient and that appropriate pre-transplant immunisation schedules may be of benefit to the recipient.