Donor specific suppressor cells in association with rejection of a renal allograft

Details are presented of three aspects of immunological monitoring in a single instance of severe irreversible rejection of a renal allograft. Rejection is associated with strong evidence of lymphocyte mediated cytotoxicity (LMC). During this period reduced responsiveness of recipient cells to stimulation in vitro by donor cells is observed; this is more reduced than is responsiveness to random cells. Donor-specific suppressor cells also develop, as detected in two systems. It is postulated that the data are evidence that competition exists between different agressive and suppressive subpopulation of recipient lymphocytes.