TRANSFER OF EXPERIMENTAL ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME BY BONE-MARROW CELL TRANSPLANTATION - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE T-CELL

Objective, To investigate the potential of bone marrow cells from mice with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) to transfer the disease to naive mice, and to determine the importance of the role of T cells in the APS, Methods, Experimental primary APS was induced in naive mic e following active immunization with anticardiolipin (aCL) monoclonal antibody (MAb), Whole-population or T cell-depleted bone marrow cells from mice with experimental primary APS were infused into total body-i rradiated naive BALB/c recipients. Results, Bone marrow cells (in the presence of T cells) had the potential to induce experimental APS in n aive mice, which resulted in high serum titers of aCL, antiphosphatidy lserine, and antiphosphatidylinositol antibodies; an increased number of antibody-forming cells specific for each of the above phospholipids ; a positive lymph node cell proliferative response to aCL MAb; and cl inical features of primary APS, including thrombocytopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (indicating the presence of lupu s anticoagulant), and a high frequency of fetal resorptions (the equiv alent of human fetal loss), T cell-depleted bone marrow cells did not transfer the disease. Conclusion, This study demonstrates the importan t role of T cells in the development and transfer of experimental prim ary APS and raises the possibility of T cell manipulations in treatmen ts to prevent this condition,