Genetic resistance to marrow transplantation as a leukemia defense mechanism

(C57 X AKR) F1 hybrid mice show genetic resistance to C57 parental bone marrow cells, but not to AKR parental bone marrow cells. (C3H X AKR) F1 hybrids show no genetic resistance to bone marrow transplantation from either parental strain. Transplantation of AKR lymphoma cells into lethally irradiated "resistant" (C57 X AKR) F1 and "non-resistant" (C3H X AKR) F1 hybrids produce lymphomatous spleen colonies in "non-resistant" hybrids but not in "resistant" hybrids. Thus "resistant" (C57 X AKR) F1 hybrids can recognize and reject AKR lymphoma cells, but not normal AKR bone marrow cells. A normal biological role of lymphoma surveillance is postulated for genetic resistance.