The monoclonal antibodies 18d7/91f2 recognize a receptor regulatory protein on mouse bone marrow stromal cells.

Two monoclonal antibodies 18D7 and 91F2 were developed by immunizing rats with the mouse bone marrow-derived osteogenic cell line MN7. Hybridomas secreting rat antibodies against MN7 cell surface markers were selected by flow cytometry analysis. Both the monoclonal antibody 18D7 and the monoclonal antibody 91F2 are directed against the same cell surface antigen present on MN7 cells. Here, we report on the immunopurification of the 18D7/91F2 antigen and its identification as the prostaglandin F2 alpha receptor regulatory protein (FPRP). FPRP is expressed as a single messenger RNA (mRNA) of approximately 6 kilobases (kb) in MN7 cells and is differentially expressed in developing osteogenic cultures of bone marrow cells of the mouse. However, addition of the monoclonal antibodies 18D7 and 91F2 to these cultures did not inhibit bone formation in vitro. Both monoclonal antibodies reacted with mouse stromal cell lines established from bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and mandibular condyles. Immunohistochemical analysis of mature tibia of mice using the monoclonal antibody 18D7 revealed the presence of a distinct population of bone marrow cells close to trabecular and endosteal bone surfaces. In the central bone marrow, hardly any positive cells were found. In 17-day-old fetal mouse radius 18D7 immunoreactivity was restricted to cells in the periosteum in close vicinity to the bone collar. Mature osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, growth plate chondrocytes, and mature macrophages were all negative. Taken together, these results suggest that FPRP plays a role in the osteogenic differentiation process.

Transplantation with low-density autologous PBSC prepared with BDS60 for women with Stage II, III and IV breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: DS60 is a novel buoyant density solution, whose density has been adjusted to enrich PBSC from subjects who have been mobilized with cytokines alone, or cytokines plus chemotherapy. This report describes the use of BDS60 to enrich autologous PBSC that were used for hematological reconstitution after myeloablative chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients with high-risk Stage II or III breast cancer or chemotherapy-sensitive Stage IV breast cancer were enrolled. Forty-seven completed treatment and were evaluable. After mobilization with cyclophosphamide (4.0 g/m(2) i.v. once) and filgrastim (10 microg/kg/day), the patients underwent leukapheresis and the products were enriched with BDS60 using the DACS300 Kit. Myeloablative chemotherapy, given on Day -5 through Day -2, consisted of cyclophosphamide (1.5 g/m(2)/day), thiotepa (150 mg/m(2)/day) and carboplatin (200 mg/m(2)/day). RESULTS: Forty-one patients underwent a single leukapheresis procedure to achieve the target number of BDS60-enriched CD34+ cells for transplantation (> or = 2 x 10(6)/kg). Five of the other six patients had less than the target number of cells in the leukapheresis product and thus required 2-4 leukapheresis procedures. Median cell recovery was 76.8% for CD34+ cells, 39.1% for nucleated cells, and 17.7% for platelets. Erythrocyte contamination of the final product was negligible. The median time to sustained neutrophil count > 500/mm(3) was 9 days (range: 8-12) and the median time to platelet count > 20 000/mm(3), without transfusion support, was also 9 days (range: 6-15). There were no late graft failures. Infusion-related adverse events were mild and no adverse events were attributed to the use of BDS60 to enrich CD34+ cells. DISCUSSION: BDS60 is an effective, rapid method for enrichment of CD34+ cells by buoyant density centrifugation and the resulting cell product is safe and effective for engraftment after myeloablative therapy.

Debulking blood stem cell collections by density gradient centrifugation in a closed-vessel system.

BACKGROUND: Blood stem cells collected by apheresis are largely mononuclear cells in nature, so manipulation of blood stem-cell components frequently requires more time and reagents than for a marrow harvest. Reducing the nucleated cell number in mobilized blood stem-cell collections, while preserving hematopoietic progenitor content, would make such manipulations simpler and less costly, but only if debulking procedures were not complex. METHODS: We evaluated separation of light-density cells and enrichment of CD34+ cells from mobilized peripheral blood stem-cell collections by density gradient centrifugation over buoyant density solution 60 (BDS 60) in a single, closed vessel. RESULTS: Fifteen apheresis products from five normal volunteers and eight cancer patients contained 3.44 (range, 1.19-5.51) x 10(10) nucleated cells. Following processing and washing, there was a median 29% recovery of nucleated cells, 79% recovery of CD34+ cells, 2.49-fold enrichment of CD34+ cells, 0.96-log depletion of CD3+ cells, 0.48-log depletion of CD56+ cells, and 0.72-log depletion of CD19+ cells. Results of processing were affected by the variability in composition of the apheresis products. The enrichment of CD34+ cells varied by donor type, and there was a logarithmic relationship between the preprocessing percentage of CD19+ cells and the log reduction in CD19+ cells. Recovery of cells after thawing and washing was acceptable for processed cells cryopreserved at concentrations over the range of 0.01-1.5 x 10(8)/mL. DISCUSSION: These results demonstrate a simple method by which an apheresis product of 1-5 x 10(10) cells can be debulked effectively in a single, closed vessel.

Rapid debulking and CD34 enrichment of filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells by semiautomated density gradient centrifugation in a closed system.

Filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are used for hematopoietic reconstitution after myeloablative therapy for malignancies, but the large number of cells collected in a single apheresis frequently presents a problem for storage or further processing. We have evaluated the use of CD34 Buoyant Density Solution-PBPC, an ultralight-density colloidal silica suspension, for debulking and enrichment of CD34+ cells in PBPC preparations in a semiautomated system. Cells were collected from four filgrastim-treated normal donors using the COBE Spectra. The separation procedure was carried out with Plasma-Lyte A and DNase 5 U/ml using the COBE 2991. Following processing and washing, there was a 26% recovery of nucleated cells, 2.6-fold enrichment of CD34+ cells, 68% recovery of CD34+ cells, 88% recovery of CFU-GM, 73% recovery of BFU-E, 1 log depletion of CD3+ cells, 0.5 log depletion of CD56+ cells, and 1 log depletion of CD19+ cells. These results were not significantly different from those obtained when PBPC were separated over CD34 Buoyant Density Solution-PBPC by centrifugation in tubes. Using CD34 Buoyant Density Solution-PBPC, mononuclear preparations of PBPC can be enriched rapidly for CD34+ cells and depleted of lymphocytes in a semiautomated closed system using reagents produced according to good manufacturing practice (GMP).

Interleukin-10 stimulates hematopoiesis in murine osteogenic stroma.

Bone marrow from 5-fluorouracil-treated mice support osteogenesis when cultured in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate and vitamin C. These cultures are unable to support the growth of granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units for longer than 2 weeks. In contrast, granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units were detected for more than 6 weeks in interleukin-10 (IL-10)-treated cultures. In addition, IL-10-treated cultures contain long-term culture initiating cells, suggesting the presence of pluripotent hematopoietic cells. Apparently, IL-10 does not directly stimulate the proliferation of granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units. Interleukin-10 is unable to stimulate [3H]-thymidine incorporation or to increase the number of granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units in cell suspensions harvested from untreated or interleukin-10-treated bone marrow cultures. Interleukin-10 acts via an indirect pathway. Because exogenous transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) reverses IL-10's stimulatory activity on myeloid progenitors, IL-10 most likely works by blocking TGF-beta synthesis, which acts as an endogenous suppressor of hematopoiesis in osteogenic marrow cultures. This is shown further by the increased numbers of granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units in cultures treated with neutralizing anti TGF-beta antibodies (1D11.16). Interleukin-10 and 1D11.16 change the cultured bone marrow stroma from an osteogenic into a hematopoietic morphology. It may be that by blocking endogenous TGF-beta production, IL-10 drives marrow mesenchymal cells away from osteogenic differentiation toward hematopoietic support.

Haemopoietic and osteogenic toxicity testing in vitro using murine bone marrow cultures.

Bone marrow and the surrounding bone with its high storage capacity for inorganic compounds may accumulate various lipophilic and electrophilic substances that enter the bloodstream. In bone marrow a few stem cells are responsible for the continuous production of blood cells and bone cells during the entire life of the organism. Damage to these cells may result in haemopoietic failure, blood disorders or bone diseases. Therefore bone marrow needs to be considered as one of the major targets of chemicals that enter the circulation. A battery of different in vitro bone marrow assays is established in which interference of chemicals with proliferation and differentiation of marrow cells with haemopoietic, stromal or bone forming marrow commitment may be screened routinely. Stromal cells form the network of extracellular matrix and growth factors that is needed by the haemopoietic cells to proliferate and differentiate. If stromal marrow cells are cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate, bone-specific proteins and an extracellular matrix are produced, which calcifies within 3 wk. To evaluate the specificity of the effects on marrow cells, a general cytotoxicity assay is included using 3T3-fibroblasts. Various concentrations of xenobiotics were added over the course of 3 days to the different asssays. Lead nitrate inhibited proliferation of stromal stem cells and their calcification in the bone-forming assay at much lower concentrations than those which were inhibitory to the proliferation of 3T3 cells. The benzene metabolite hydroquinone was equally inhibitory in all the marrow assays, but 3T3 cells needed 10 times more hydroquinone to reach the same degree of inhibition. Catechol, which is another benzene metabolite, was highly toxic but was equally effective in all the assays and showed no specific effects on the marrow cells. As in vivo, benzene itself and phenol showed hardly any effect in the in vitro assays. Not only pollutants but also cytokines may be screened with these assays. Differential effects on marrow cells could be demonstrated for interleukin 10.

Characterization and purification of osteogenic cells from murine bone marrow by two-color cell sorting using anti-Sca-1 monoclonal antibody and wheat germ agglutinin.

Osteogenic cells were sorted from bone marrow of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated mice based on light scatter characteristics, Sca-1 expression, and their binding to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Four sort gates were established using forward (FSC) and perpendicular (SSC) light scatter and were denominated as FSChigh SSClow, FSClow SSChigh, FSClow SSClow, and FSChigh SSChigh cell. Cells from the FSChigh SSChigh gate, but not from the other gates, synthesized alkaline phosphatase, collagen, and osteocalcin and formed a mineralized matrix in culture. The number of osteoprogenitor cells was significantly enriched after depleting the 5-FU bone marrow from cells of the lymphoid and myeloid lineage, eg, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, granulocytes, macrophages, and erythrocytes. Approximately 95% of the FSChigh SSChigh cell population of this "lineage-negative" (Lin-) marrow expressed the Sca-1 antigen (Sca-1+) and bound WGA. Three additional sort windows were established based on WGA binding intensity and were denominated as Sca-1+ WGAdull, Sca-1+ WGAmedium, and Sca-1+ WGAbright. Cells from the Sca-1+ WGAbright gate, but not from the other gates, synthesized bone proteins and formed a mineralized matrix. However, they lost this capacity upon subcultivation. Further immunophenotypic characterization showed that FSChigh SSChigh Lin- Sca-1+ WGAbright cells expressed stromal (KM16) and endothelial (Sab-1 and Sab-2) markers, but not hematopoietic surface markers such as c-kit and Thy1.2. Sorted FSChigh SSChigh Lin- Sca-1+ WGAbright cells form three-dimensional nodules that stain with the von Kossa technique and contain osteoblast and osteocyte-like cells.

Interleukin 10 inhibits transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) synthesis required for osteogenic commitment of mouse bone marrow cells.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) suppressed TGF-beta synthesis in mouse bone marrow cultures. Coincidingly, IL-10 down-regulated the production of bone proteins including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen and osteocalcin, and the formation of mineralized extracellular matrix. The mAb 1D11.16 which neutralizes TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2, induced suppressive effects comparable to IL-10 when administered before the increase of cell proliferation in the culture. It appears that mainly TGF-beta 1 plays a role in this system since (a) TGF-beta 2 levels were undetectable in supernatants from osteogenic cultures, (b) no effect was observed when the anti-TGF-beta 2 neutralizing mAb 4C7.11 was added and (c) the suppressive effect of IL-10 could be reversed by adding exogenous TGF-beta 1. It is unlikely that TGF-beta 1 modulates osteogenic differentiation by changing the proliferative potential of marrow cells since 1D11.16 did not affect [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation or the number of fibroblast colony forming cells (CFU-F) which harbor the osteoprogenitor cell population. Furthermore, 1D11.16 did not alter [3H]TdR uptake by the cloned osteoprogenitor cell lines MN7 and MC3T3. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed that IL-10 and 1D11.16 induced comparable morphological changes in the marrow cultures. Control cultures contained flat adherent cells embedded in a mineralized matrix. In contrast, IL-10 and 1D11.16 treated cultures were characterized by round non-adherent cells and the absence of a mineralized matrix. In this study, the mechanism by which IL-10 suppresses the osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow was identified as inhibition of TGF-beta 1 production which is essential for osteogenic commitment of bone marrow cells.

Interleukin-10 inhibits the osteogenic activity of mouse bone marrow.

Murine bone marrow cells synthesize bone proteins, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I, and osteocalcin, and form a mineralized extracellular matrix when cultured in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate and vitamin C. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) suppressed the synthesis of these bone proteins and mineralization without affecting cell proliferation. In addition, mRNA levels for the latter proteins were reduced in IL-10-treated cultures. This inhibitory effect was most outspoken when IL-10 was added before ALP activity peaked, eg, day 15 of culture. No significant effect was observed when IL-10 was added at later time points. This finding suggests that IL-10 acts at osteogenic differentiation stages that precede ALP expression but is ineffective on cells that progressed beyond this maturation stage. Likewise, IL-10 appeared to be unable to block both ALP activity and collagen synthesis in the preosteosteoblastic cell lines MN7 and MC3T3 that constitutively synthesize these proteins. Whereas IL-10 did not alter the number of fibroblast colony-forming cells of the marrow, it significantly reduced their osteogenic differentiation potential. In contrast to control cultures, IL-10-treated stroma was unable to either synthesize osteocalcin or to mineralize when subcultured over a 25-day period in the absence of IL-10. The inhibitory activity of IL-10 coincided with significant changes in stroma morphology. Whereas control cultures contained mainly flat adherent polygonal cells, significant numbers of rounded semiadherent to nonadherent cells were observed in the presence of IL-10. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that, in contrast to control cultures, IL-10-treated stromas completely lacked a mineralized extracellular matrix. Collectively, these data suggest that IL-10 may have important regulatory effects on bone biology because of its capacity to downregulate early steps of osteogenic differentiation.

IL-10 and viral IL-10 prevent IL-4-induced IgE synthesis by inhibiting the accessory cell function of monocytes.

In the present study it is demonstrated that IL-10 and viral (v)-IL-10 inhibit IL-4-induced IgG4 and IgE synthesis in cultures of PBMC from healthy nonatopic donors. The inhibition occurred at the mRNA level. IL-10 strongly reduced IL-4-induced expression of both germline and productive epsilon transcripts in PBMC. The inhibitory effects were completely neutralized, or IgG4 and IgE synthesis was even enhanced, by anti-IL-10 mAb, demonstrating the specificity of the reaction. IL-4-induced IgG4 and IgE synthesis by PBMC was monocyte dependent. IL-4 failed to induce IgG4 or IgE synthesis by monocyte-depleted PBMC, but the production of these isotypes was completely restored by reconstitution with autologous monocytes. However, monocytes preincubated with IL-10 for 24 h failed to provide the accessory signals required for IL-4-induced IgG4 and IgE synthesis, indicating that the inhibitory effects of IL-10 are indirectly mediated via monocytes. This notion was further supported by the finding that IL-10 and v-IL-10 failed to inhibit IL-4-induced IgE synthesis in the absence of monocytes, i.e., when highly purified B cells were cultured in the presence of anti-CD40 mAb or cloned activated CD4+ T cells. Moreover, IL-10 failed to inhibit IL-4-induced germline epsilon mRNA synthesis in highly purified B cells. The inhibitory effects of IL-10 could not be restored by exogenous TNF-alpha or IL-6, indicating that the inhibitory effects were not mediated through inhibition of production of these cytokines. This is compatible with the observation that monocytes preincubated with IL-10 did not inhibit IgG4 or IgE synthesis in a monocyte- and T cell-independent culture system, in which purified B cells were cultured in the presence of anti-CD40 mAb and IL-4. Collectively, these data indicate that IL-10 mediates a potent, monocyte-dependent, inhibitory effect on IL-4-induced IgG4 and IgE production by human PBMC.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF): a growth factor with pleiotropic effects on bone biology.

Historically, growth factors are denominated based on a specific biological activity. In many cases, these factors display a much broader spectrum of activities, especially when their effect is tested on various cell or tissue types. Consequently, names of certain factors are quite deceptive. A textbook example is leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF was initially described based on its ability to induce differentiation in the murine myeloid leukemia cell line M1. Later, LIF turned out to be a synonym for at least nine different factors defined on the basis of their effects on a variety of cell types including lymphomas, liver cells, embryonic stem cells and carcinoma cells, neurons, melanomas and osteoclasts. Apart from its differential effect on unrelated cell types and tissues. LIF induces biphasic effects on cells of the same "lineage" as well. Needless to say, LIF activity in these circumstances largely depends on the developmental stage of the target cells. An example is LIF activity on bone cells. Osteoclast as well as osteoblast activity is stimulated or suppressed by LIF depending on the developmental stage of the respective cells. This concept is of utmost importance in the evaluation of the seemingly opposing or contradictory effects of LIF in vitro as well as in vivo.

Functional and phenotypic differences between CD4+ and CD4- T cell receptor-gamma delta clones from peripheral blood.

CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cells comprise a very small subset of TCR-gamma delta+ T cells. CD4+ TCR gamma delta+ T cell clones were established to study the phenotypical and functional characteristics of these cells. Thirty-four CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones were established after sorting CD4+ T cells from a pre-expanded TCR-gamma delta+ T cell population. These clones as well as the CD4- TCR-gamma delta+ T cells from the same donor used V gamma 2 and V delta 2. In a second cloning experiment CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cells were cloned directly from freshly isolated TCR-gamma delta+ T cells using a cloning device coupled to a FACS sorter. Forty-three clones were obtained, which all expressed CD4 and TCR-gamma delta. Eleven of these clones used V delta 1 and three of them coexpressed V gamma 2. The other CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones used both V delta 2 and V gamma 2. CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones expressed CD28 irrespective of the V gamma or V delta usage, and were CD11b negative. Three CD4-CD8+ TCR-gamma delta+ clones expressed CD8 alpha but not CD8 beta and were CD11b positive. CD28 expression among CD4-CD8+ and CD4-CD8- was variable but lower than on CD4+ T cell clones. CD4- TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones using V gamma 2 and V delta 2 specifically lyse the Burkitt lymphoma cell line Daudi and secrete low levels of IFN-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF upon stimulation with Daudi. In contrast, most CD4+ T cell clones that use V gamma 2 and V delta 2 had a very low lytic activity against Daudi cells and secrete high levels of IFN-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF after stimulation with Daudi cells. The NK-sensitive cell line K562 was killed efficiently by the CD4- TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones, but not by CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones, and could not induce cytokine secretion in CD4+ or CD4- T cell clones. CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cell clones, but not the CD4- clones, could provide bystander cognate T cell help for production of IgG, IgM, and IgA in the presence of IL-2 and IgE in the presence of IL-4. Thus, CD4+ TCR-gamma delta+ T cells are similar to CD4+ TCR-alpha beta+ T cells in their abilities to secrete high levels of cytokines and to provide T cell help in antibody production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies or CD4+ T cell clones and IL-4 induce IgG4 and IgE switching in purified human B cells via different signaling pathways.

IL-4 induces IgE and IgG4 synthesis, but in addition to IL-4, a second signal provided by CD4+ T cells is required. Here we demonstrate that the signal provided by CD4+ T cells can be replaced by anti-CD40 mAb. Highly purified surface (sIgM+) human B cells cultured with soluble anti-CD40 mAb in the presence of IL-4 produced IgM, total IgG, IgG4, and relatively high levels of IgE, indicating that production of these isotypes represented H chain switching and was not the result of a selective outgrowth of isotype committed B cells. No IgA was produced in these cultures. However, the T cell signal was different from the signal provided by anti-CD40 mAb, because in contrast to CD4+ T cells, anti-CD40 mAb failed to induce germ-line epsilon transcripts. However, anti-CD40 mAb strongly enhanced germ-line epsilon mRNA expression induced by IL-4. In addition, IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, and anti-CD23 mAb, which block IL-4-induced IgE production by PBMC, or B cells cocultured with CD4+ T cell clones, failed to inhibit IgG4 and IgE synthesis induced by anti-CD40 mAb. Finally, anti-CD40 mAb and CD4+ T cell clones had strong synergistic effects on IgG4 and IgE synthesis. These results indicate that different B cell activation pathways can result in IgG4 and IgE switching in the presence of IL-4.

Cloned natural suppressor cell lines express the CD3+CD4-CD8- surface phenotype and the alpha, beta heterodimer of the T cell antigen receptor.

Several cloned lines of natural suppressor (NS) cells were studied for their expression of the TCR complex. Almost all bore the CD3+CD4-CD8- surface phenotype with the alpha, beta TCR as judged by immunofluorescent staining. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed a spot on two-dimensional gels which is characteristic of the TCR heterodimer, but neither gamma- nor delta-chains could be precipitated with the appropriate antibodies. NS cells were stimulated to proliferate in vitro with anti-CD3 antibodies and PMA in the presence of irradiated spleen cells. However, anti-CD3 antibodies did not inhibit the suppressive activity of the NS cells. The role of the TCR complex in the suppressive function of these cells remains to be elucidated.

Inhibition of lymphocyte aggregation by progesterone.

Investigations were carried out on the influence of progesterone and murine trophoblast culture supernatants on the capacity of lymphocytes to form aggregates (clusters), an important feature in immunologic recognition and response. Both progesterone and trophoblast supernatants inhibited this cluster formation in a dose-dependent way. The effect of trophoblast supernatants appeared to be mediated mainly by progesterone since they lost their inhibitory effect on the cluster formation after treatment with anti-progesterone serum (APS). Preparations with I1-2 activity of rat and mouse origin could either prevent or restore the suppressive effect of both progesterone and trophoblast supernatants on lymphocyte aggregation. The interference with lymphocyte interaction by trophoblast may represent one of the mechanisms by which the fetal allograft is protected against maternal recognition.

Suppression of cellular immune reactions by rat ovarian cells.

The influence on the immunologic response by rat ovarian cells of follicle and stromal tissue origin was investigated using the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) assay, the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay, and a cytotoxic T-cell-mediated microcytotoxicity test. The MLR between BN/Mai Pfd (RT-In) stimulator splenocytes (mitomycin-C treated) and R/A Pfd (RT-1u) responder lymph node cells was markedly suppressed by ovarian cells of follicle and/or stromal tissue origin. A similar in vitro inhibition was observed with cell-free supernatants from ovarian cells, not only in the rat MLR but also in the mouse MLR between Balb/c stimulator splenocytes and C57B1 responder lymph node cells. Moreover, the reactivity of rat lymphocytes was suppressed when they were cocultured with ovarian cells in the PHA and CTL assays. Preincubation of the supernatants with serial diluted antiprogesterone serum (APS) and antiestradiol serum (AES) revealed that the suppressive effect of these supernatants could be completely abolished with APS--and, to a lesser extent, by AES. As shown by the cell-mediated microcytoxicity assay both the ovarian cells and the steroids secreted by these cells were, however, ineffective in suppressing the effector phase. It is suggested that the steroid secretion by the ovary may play an important role in the prolonged survival of ovarian grafts.