Induction of immunodeficiency in mice by injection with syngeneic splenocytes immune to semi-allogeneic hybrid cells

Intravenous transfer of BALB/c spleen cells (1-10 × 10⁶) immunized against semi-allogeneic hybrid cells bearing H-2^k antigens into BALB/c mice resulted in splenomegaly (2- to 6-fold). As few as 2 × 10⁴ spleen cells could transfer splenomegaly. A significant spleen enlargement was seen from 2 weeks after cell transfer and reached the peak level at 3 weeks. Those mice with splenomegaly displayed markedly reduced levels of proliferative responses to concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. However, the levels of the major Ig classes (i.e., IgG, IgM, and IgA) in the immunodeficient mice were significantly elevated. Such induction of immunodeficiency in mice may help further to understand the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome of humans.