Development of graft-vs.-host disease-like syndrome in cyclosporine- treated rats after syngeneic bone marrow transplantation. I. Development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes with apparent polyclonal anti-Ia specificity, including autoreactivity

The existence of syngeneic GVHD provides compelling evidence that histocompatibility differences are not absolute requirements for the development of this syndrome. One hypothesis to account for the development of syngeneic GVHD is a failure of the immune system to discriminate self from nonself, resulting in the generation of autoreactive ceils. However, the presence of autoreactivity may be a normal process that is regulated, but under the circumstances of syngeneic marrow transplantation and subsequent CsA immunosuppression, the regulatory process may be altered.