ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Graft-versus-host disease in recipients of grafts from natural killer T cell-deficient (J alpha 281 super(---)) donors

V alpha 14i natural killer T cells (NKT cells) are a CD1-restricted subset of NKT cells that express an invariable V alpha 14 super(+) J alpha 281 super(+) alpha beta T-cell receptor. To determine whether the absence of V alpha 14i NKT cells from the graft affects the development of acute GVHD, we induced GVH reactions using J alpha 281 super(---) mice as donors in the C57BL-6 arrow right (C57BL-6 x DBA-2)F sub(1)-hybrid strain combination. Recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors were not protected from either the morbidity or the severe wasting syndrome associated with the development of acute GVHD, but the concentrations of some T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines were different from those seen in recipients of grafts from wild-type donors. Interferon- gamma was seen earlier (day 4) in recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors but did not reach the concentrations seen in recipients of grafts from wild-type donors on day 8 (P < 0.02). On day 8, the amount of tumour necrosis factor- alpha released into the serum following the injection of a small amount of lipopolysaccharide was lower in recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors (P < 0.02). The amount of interleukin (IL)-5 was also lower in recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors, when compared to the concentration seen in recipients of grafts from wild-type donors (P < 0.002). IL-13 was seen in recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors but not in recipients of grafts from wild-type donors. Our findings show that the absence of donor V alpha 14i NKT cells is associated with lower concentrations of some Th1 cytokines. We also observed higher IL-13 concentrations and lower IL-5 concentrations in recipients of grafts from J alpha 281 super(---) donors indicating a variable effect on Th2 cytokine production.