Age-related factors in cyclosporine-induced syngeneic graft-versus-host disease: regulatory role of marrow-derived T lymphocytes

Fischer and Hess Figure 3 . Combined effects of donor and recipient age on the induction of SGVHD. Lewis rats 1 mo of age were used for donor marrow for recipients either 1 or 3-6 mo old. Rats 6 mo of age were used for donor marrow grafts for recipients 1 month or 3-6 months of age. The recipients were treated for 30 d with 15 mg/kg/d of C&A and observed for the appearance of SGVHD after discontinuation of C&A therapy (n -8 per group). the combined effects ofdonor and recipient age at a 15 mg/kg dose of C&A using marrow donors and recipients of either 1 or 3-6 mo of age. The results revealed that the greatest incidence of SGVHD after CsA therapy occurred when the marrow was derived from donors 1 mo of age. At this dose of CsA, SGVHD was induced in 90% ofrats 3-6 mo of age when the marrow donor was 1 mo old . Taken together with the results presented in Fig. 2 B, it appears that the recipient age variable can be overcome by increasing the dose of CsA and the use of donor marrow derived from younger animals . In contrast, when marrow is derived from donors that are >3 mo of age, only a moderate (30%) incidence of SGVHD occurs after CsA therapy, and it was not enhanced significantly by increasing the dose of CsA .