In vitro and in vivo analysis of bone marrow-derived CD3+, CD4-, CD8-, NK1.1+ cell lines

The development of methods of avoiding graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while retaining the alloengraftment-promoting and anti-leukemic effects of allogeneic T cells is a major goal of research in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We have recently obtained evidence suggesting that natural suppressor (NS) cells derived from T cell-depleted (TCD) syngeneic marrow can protect against GVHD while permitting alloengraftment. We have now attempted to enrich and then propagate NS cells in vitro, with the goal of obtaining an enhanced anti-GVHD effect by adoptive transfer in vivo. Two long-term cell lines were generated culturing BMC depleted of Mac1-positive cells and of Mac1-positive plus Thy1-positive cells in high concentrations of IL-2. Both cell lines showed anti-GVHD effects when administered along with a GVHD-producing inoculum, while permitting complete allogeneic reconstitution. A clone derived from Mac1-depleted BMC protected completely against a more chronic pattern of GVHD. These cell lines demonstrated suppressive activity in vitro, cytolytic activity against a broad range of natural killer (NK)-sensitive and NK-resistant targets, and a novel cell surface phenotype, with characteristics of both alpha beta-TcR-bearing T cells and of NK cells. In some respects, these cells resemble LAK cells and differ from fresh NS cells, and from the cloned NS cells derived from spleens of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI)-treated mice and neonatal mice. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed phenotypic analysis of cell lines with in vivo anti-GVHD activity. If applicability can be demonstrated in large animal models, the ability to use bone marrow as a source of such protective cell lines might also have potential utility in clinical BMT.