Liver sinusoidal passenger lymphocytes reveal suppressive properties and prolong allograft survival

Liver sinusoidal washout cells are low responders to mitogens, and suppressive in autologous PBM, and portal blood mononuclear cells, PHA supplemented, and autologous mixed lymphocyte cultures. They are less immunogenic after IV administration into allogeneic recipients than PBM, which could be measured in an in vivo allogeneic lymphocyte elimination test. The level of immunization is strain dependent. In the BN to LEW combination, they are more immunogenic than in the LEW to DA pairs. This parallels heart allograft survival times, which were longer in LEW to DA than BN to LEW combinations.